Mood swings are often dismissed as “just hormones” or stress, but many women know deep down that something more is going on. If your emotional shifts feel intense, sudden, or out of proportion to your circumstances, there may be hidden physical contributors at play. From woman to woman, you are not imagining this.
Here are some examples of how physical health can impact your mood:
1. Blood sugar instability
When blood sugar rises and crashes, mood often follows. Irritability, anxiety, tearfulness, and brain fog can all show up when the body is not being fueled consistently. In therapy, we can work on noticing emotional patterns without shame and building self compassion around symptoms. Collaboration with a functional medicine provider or dietitian can help identify glucose dysregulation and support steadier nutrition.
2. Thyroid imbalance
The thyroid quietly influences energy, mood, and emotional resilience. Even “subclinical” issues can create depression, exhaustion, anxiety, or emotional flatness. Therapy can support grief, frustration, and identity shifts that come with feeling unlike yourself. Functional medicine can assess full thyroid panels and address root causes.
3. Chronic stress and cortisol disruption
Long term stress can dysregulate cortisol, leaving you wired, exhausted, or emotionally reactive. Therapy helps restore nervous system safety, emotional regulation, and boundaries. Functional medicine may support adrenal health and stress recovery through targeted interventions.
4. Gut health and inflammation
The gut and brain are deeply connected. Imbalances can contribute to low mood, irritability, and anxiety. Therapy helps reduce self-blame and build coping tools during flares. Functional medicine can address microbiome health and inflammation.
5. Histamine or immune activation
Some women experience mood swings driven by immune responses, including histamine intolerance or mast cell activation. Therapy offers grounding during unpredictable symptoms and emotional validation. Functional medicine can investigate triggers and calming supports.
This list is not at all exhaustive. Many things can be occurring in our bodies that lead to mental health shifts. It is always worth doing a deep dive to ensure we are optimizing how you feel from different angles.
Healing mood swings often requires both emotional and physical care. At Soma and Soul, I am here to assist with the emotional side of things, while also connecting you with providers that can help with the physical side.
If you are in need of support, feel free to reach out or book an appointment.
