Dealing with Mood Swings

[sarah3]

I've noticed that when my anxiety gets out of control I have mood swings...a lot of times I'll take out on my boyfriend. I will snap at him, and then have a hard time getting over it. I've been good about not doing that in the past few weeks. Last night I was in the shower when he got home from work. All day I was really excited to see him since we both worked doubles..when I went downstairs to sit on the couch he started joking around saying that he wasn't gonna move..for some reason that pushed my buttons. This only lasted about 20 minutes and he didn't seem too phased by it..he was just kind of like, "I was kidding....don't be upset!" everything is fine now, but now I can't stop thinking about it.. I'm super anxious, afraid that this will happen again and he will leave me...
Does anyone else here deal with mood swings? What are some ways to control it?

[KrissyNicole]

I get like this too. I snap at him and then fear he will leave, so I apologize multiple times even though he understands. The fact of the matter is your boyfriend loves you and he understands how you are and how your mind works, he wouldn't leave you over it!

[kenny0515]

i know how you fell im really irtiabil most times so i snap at my fiancee but she understands what makes it worst tho most time is that she is bi polar so half time when i snap she wll snap right backs its fun not really but we understand each other so if he understands you dont worry 

[tigerpaw]

Mood swings are not comfortable. I have seen people here with bipolar, or just some underlying issue that triggers the irritability.

Maybe, you should talk it out with a psychologist or a close friend.

Hope you find some comfort here.

[obdue]

I'm SO glad I found this thread. Okay, this happens to me all the time.

This is going to sound crazy, but I'll share it anyway. Yesterday, my boyfriend worked from 9-4, and I worked from 4-midnight. So I hadn't seen him all day, and was feeling a little lonely after a long day of work. I came home and he was asleep on the couch, and got up to go to bed when I got home. I got so upset that I was more obviously more excited to see him then he was to see me (irrational, I know, I can't help it) that I burst into tears and it took him a good 15 minutes to calm me down. I can't offer much in the way of advice (obviously I struggle with your problem too) but I find that as long as I can try my hardest to explain why I got upset he's very very forgiving and understanding of my intense mood swings. He understands that I think differently than most people and as long as I'm being clear and open about what exactly made me upset (in this case, a core worry that he's gotten tired of our relationship) he comforts and reassures me and all is well.

[sarah3]

Thanks for all of the responses

obdue, that sounds exactly like me! only I havent shared my anxiety problem with my boyfriend..so he has no clue whats going on. We've been together about 7 months..I'm scared to tell him.

[Grandma]

Hi sarah -

Please consider telling your boyfriend what is going on.  He deserves to know why you act the way you act.

Either he will be supportive or he won't, and if he won't, better to find out sooner than later.

And speaking of why you act the way you act - have you sought professional help to figure this out?  If not, that is another thing to consider.

Love, Grandma

[floridaguy65]

Hi sarah -

Please consider telling your boyfriend what is going on.  He deserves to know why you act the way you act.

Either he will be supportive or he won't, and if he won't, better to find out sooner than later.

And speaking of why you act the way you act - have you sought professional help to figure this out?  If not, that is another thing to consider.

Love, Grandma

Yes, I agree with Grandma...speaking candidly with your boyfriend would, seem, the correct thing to do:)

You said you were "super-anxious" and "so scared to tell him". These type issues thrive on fear and insecurities, it's how anxiety keeps its grip upon us. IMHO, only through facing these fears and dealing with the issues, at hand, will you find some relief from your stress. Will it be painstakingly difficult...perhaps...maybe even probably. But, the alternative is to walk around with a knot in your tummy and angst in your melon:) You can do it:)

And, of course, professional help is available, too...as mentioned:)

Peace and Feel Well:)

[sarah3]

Hi sarah -

Please consider telling your boyfriend what is going on.  He deserves to know why you act the way you act.

Either he will be supportive or he won't, and if he won't, better to find out sooner than later.

And speaking of why you act the way you act - have you sought professional help to figure this out?  If not, that is another thing to consider.

Love, Grandma

Yes, I agree with Grandma...speaking candidly with your boyfriend would, seem, the correct thing to do:)

You said you were "super-anxious" and "so scared to tell him". These type issues thrive on fear and insecurities, it's how anxiety keeps its grip upon us. IMHO, only through facing these fears and dealing with the issues, at hand, will you find some relief from your stress. Will it be painstakingly difficult...perhaps...maybe even probably. But, the alternative is to walk around with a knot in your tummy and angst in your melon:) You can do it:)

And, of course, professional help is available, too...as mentioned:)

Peace and Feel Well:)

Any ideas on how to bring up the conversation? What should I say? Although my boyfriend is very nice and usually very understanding, he isn't good at having serious conversations... and he's one of those types thats weird about therapists and psychiatrists... I mean, he seems like he is...but we've never really discussed it..