Emotional rollercoaster
Question
I am really confused at the moment but don't know what's wrong with me. One minute I'm happy, the next minute things really get to me. This is causing some really big problems with my best friend as I keep getting really moody with her. I don't mean to; she means the world to me.
I've also noticed that I've become quite a jealous person and I keep getting quite angry. It's all really confusing me. What's wrong with me?
Answer
It must be very distressing experiencing these mood swings, especially when it is affecting your friendship with your best friend.
Is anything happening that may be causing you to feel this way? It may be that something has happened to trigger these feelings. Or perhaps particular areas of your life are being affected, such as relationships or work, and you may want to think about these issues individually. Or it could be that there isn't an obvious reason at all.
You're obviously very concerned about the effect this is having on your relationship with your best friend. Have you discussed your feelings with her? Sharing difficult feelings can often help people to gain more clarity. If you do explain to her how you feel, she may be able to understand why you are behaving in this way and offer you more support.
Mood swings can be caused by all sorts of things, from mental health issues, stress or a response to trauma, to more physical things like hormone imbalance or diet (e.g. blood sugar levels). In more extreme cases, you may find mood swings are linked to personality disorders, but these can be difficult to diagnose.
There may also be other underlying issues surrounding your thoughts, feelings and behaviour too, such as anxiety or depression. You might find it useful to talk to your local doctor (GP) about your feelings. If you are diagnosed with depression your GP will be able to discuss the medical and talking treatment options available. If necessary, they should also be able to refer you onto an appropriate counselling service. Alternatively, you could try contacting the Youth Access if you wished to seek this form of support independently.
Sometimes opening up to family and friends can help too. It is understandable that some people prefer to keep things from those they are close to for fear of upsetting them but often once people know the situation they are able to offer help and support.
If you feel uncomfortable discussing any of this with your GP or with someone close to you, there are organisations and support groups that can also help you through this difficult time. Youth2Youth provide emotional support in a variety of ways; either via their helpline on 020 8896 3675 or by email or an online chat room. It is there especially for young people, run by young people. In addition, SANELINE offers confidential emotional support and information to anyone experiencing mental health problems. You can call them on 0845 767 8000.
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