Mood Swings and Colors

Color and moods have long been associated with each other. People are described as "feeling blue" or in a "black mood" if they are depressed, or viewing life as "rosy" if they have an optimistic outlook. Color can have a real effect when treating mood swings, helping to redress the chemical imbalances that can cause profound highs and lows.

Causes

• Human moods and emotions are governed by neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA and dopamine. An imbalance in the quantities of these brain chemicals can lead to mood swings, leading to depression or severe hyperactivity. To counteract these extreme variations, the brain needs to be persuaded to release counterbalancing neurotransmitters or reabsorb the excess. Color can help.

Color's Effects

• Color stimulates the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, which in turn affects mood. Different colors are composed of different wavelengths of light. These varying wavelengths stimulate the pituitary gland into releasing different brain chemicals that in turn provoke a particular mood. Blue and green are calming, violet can be confidence boosting, indigo can focus the mind. Yellow and orange can boast optimism and cheerfulness. Red can also help energize a person. To use color effectively to combat mood swings, it's wise to consult a color therapist.

Color Therapy

• Color therapy helps balance mood swings by introducing the correct balance of color energies to an individual. A color therapist helps the patient decide what colors are lacking in his life and shows him how to introduce color effectively to help control his moods. Specialized treatments are often prescribed, such as light treatments or chromotherapy. This involves bathing the patient in light filtered through colored slides or gels.

Color Treatments

• Chromotherapy is just one way to treat mood swings. Diet therapy introduces different colored foods into the diet to help regulate imbalances. Crystal therapy is also used, placing appropriately colored crystals or gem stones on key points of the body. Alternatively, colors can be incorporated into home décor or clothing to help redress the imbalance and prevent mood swings.