How do you overcome mood swinging?

I have a friend who's been facing this since quite a long time.. He is failing in every step taking to overcome this.. (medications don't seem working). There is some recurring thoughts (scarier thoughts mostly) on his mind, feeling negative in everything. Feeling sad for no reasons the whole day.. I tried talk therapy to him, it works but for a little time (like few hours maximum) and he gets back to same recurring thoughts...

Have anyone been into this already? And how did/do you overcome?

I really really need help in this.

I'll be honest here, I've been and still am in probably similar situation and... Well I did try to kill myself twice over the period of a year and these thoughts still linger. What I do and it seems to work in maintaining my day to day life is therapy, which is what I cannot recommend enough.

That's the only reason I'm still here today and talking things out with someone who is unbiased to your life and can actually listen and help you reflect on your past/present is the way to recovery. I did try medications which only made things a bit worse, without actually solving anything. So I strongly recommend to seek professional help and stick to it for at least a year on a consistent basis or as long as the person needs it.

Hope that helps.

Make him visit a certified psychiatrist. That is the only and right way to find a solution to his problem. Internet doesn't really help much when it comes to mood swinging/anxiety or any disorders.

It doesn't seem working, as he is taking medication from past few years(from popular psychiatrist). It is not helping much, he still has those scarier thoughts that don't let him be peaceful. I can't see him being like this.

SpoonFeeder said:

Make him visit a certified psychiatrist. That is the only and right way to find a solution to his problem. Internet doesn't really help much when it comes to mood swinging/anxiety or any disorders.

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Your friend needs to seek a professional to book sessions with.

I believe it's important that you insist he pursues legitimate therapy from a certified practitioner. Concrete results take time to achieve and effort must be put in.

As far as something that can be done independently, I cannot recommend meditation enough, as way of strengthening emotional control and focus.
A very good and easy way to start with this is Sam Harris's app ( https://wakingup.com/ ) and almost any materials he produced on the topic.

HI - for me the stresses of work/life always had my mood up and down. I find now therapy and meditation really help, both of which I always shunned in my early years

seoways said:

It doesn't seem working, as he is taking medication from past few years(from popular psychiatrist). It is not helping much, he still has those scarier thoughts that don't let him be peaceful. I can't see him being like this.

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I can completely understand what he is going through. CBT/Cognitive Behavioural Therapy will help to regain his focus. Practicing Mindfulness will help him get rid of negative thoughts. Try to make him not much isolated and get busy with some social life.

How much dedicated he is to overcome this is what really matters at the end of the day. He can keep complaining forever but he must realise he can't just keep repeating these for another 10 years and be self-disciplined enough to make it happen.

How do medications even work for mood swinging? He needs to get to certified psychiatrist. He also needs to get out more often, start exercising, eating healthy.

A lot of people that I know have started swing dancing classes to fight their anxiety problems. A lot of people said their mood changed drastically and permanentally (postitively). I know that lindy hop can change lives ... it changed mine ... but it's not about lindy hop, I would say it's about finding your passion ... that thing that drives you forward.

I don't want to be this dude, but if i meet anyone with depression, first thing i teach them is meditation, i talk through the process on how to separate you from all the emotions and identify the place inside your brain where you can hold onto while these thoughts run through and then disappear. The problem comes from not being able to hold onto yourself and constantly identifying YOU with all the thoughts and emotions, like in a loop, and unaware that thoughts are ment to be a tool, not a part of your personality.

To accept this first, a person needs to be prepared to change, and that's the hardest part i guess. Self observing through meditation is an independent method to do psychoanalysis, no need for external human beings. I found out that a lot of people who identify themselves with depression, feel some kind of craving for the feeling, and it's hard for them to let go of that.

If your friend truly wants to change, he has to try this at least 10 minutes a day, full focus on one thing, preferably a candle, and self observe, and stop identifying with the thoughts. It's just a mess and he does not have to become what he thinks is real. Gotta make him believe that it will work and most thoughts are made up from the past experiences and future thinking. It's a self consuming black hole loop.

Pills only help temporarily, while they work. True change comes from within himself, he has to learn to accept the possibility first, then meditate and reclaim his own identity. That would be a good start. There are ways to reprogram yourself from the inside out, and it's not a bs hypnosis.

Majinn said:

a lot of people who identify themselves with depression, feel some kind of craving for the feeling, and it's hard for them to let go of that

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From my personal experience, as well as experience with many depressed people, in a LOT of cases THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE, but unfortunately, this perspective doesn't get talked too much about.
Admitting one's own helplessness is a huge relief for depressed and stressed out people, but it's the wrong way of going about it because it doesn't allow you to 'move on' and end the cycle of mourning over something. Depressed people, as well as addicts, will often mask this saying they just admit that they have a problem and are 'working on it'. Be wary of such claims, it's often that they admit that they just can't be helped.


I can't say anything about meditation as I've never attempted it, and honestly, I can hardly sit still for 3 minutes, let alone meditate for 10. But I absolutely agree, again from various experience, that pills only help temporarily and often enough they don't help at all. Some people claim pills even added to the damage.
Taking responsibility instead of accepting helplessness is what I believe to be the solution for many depressed people. Now, whether it comes through meditation, self-observation, psychoanalysis or drill Sgt. yelling at them, that's just a method of transport.

OP, of course, professional help should be sought out but, if you really care about this guy, DON'T let him stop after going to 1 place. Many people will try out 1 professional and say that it's not working. In reality, I've seen cases where people click with like their 6th counselor after many failed attempts.

have a great support system to help you

Medication (the right one) and therapy. Been on that journey myself since forever.