Treatments for Severe Mood Swings

Individuals who suffer from severe mood swings may experience episodes of severe depression followed by periods of elation and hyperactive behaviors. These episodes appear in cycles that are interspersed with periods of normal, balanced behavior and temperament. Effective treatments for severe mood swings vary depending on a person's biochemistry and life circumstances. The most commonly used approaches include prescription medications, herbal supplements and psychotherapy.

Identification

• The two conditions most characterized by severe mood swings are bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. Bipolar is a mood disorder, whereas schizoaffective disorder is categorized as a psychosis. Although these are two completely different categories of mental illness, it's not uncommon for their treatment solutions to be the same. Schizoaffective conditions are actually a combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. And while lithium is the standard treatment for bipolar, in some cases antidepressant medications work better depending on the individual.

Lithium Treatment

• For those diagnosed with bipolar disorder, lithium is typically the first course of treatment used. Lithium is a prescription medication that can be administered in tablet, capsule or syrup form. Lithium is also used in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder to help stabilize the severe mood swings caused by the bipolar aspect of the disorder. As neurotransmitter level imbalances play a central role in both bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, lithium works to adjust neurotransmitter levels in the brain.

Antidepressant Medications

• Antidepressant medications are the second most likely treatment approach for disorders in which severe mood swings are present. Because there are some who don't respond to lithium's therapeutic effects, treating the depression symptoms associated with bipolar and schizoaffective disorders helps balance neurotransmitter levels. Neurotransmitters affected include serotonin, norepinephrine, tryptophan and melatonin. Often, antidepressant medications are administered along with antianxiety drugs in an attempt to treat both depression and the symptoms of excitability and restlessness that accompany bipolar disorder.

Herbal Supplements

• Many who dislike the idea of taking prescribed medications, or lack the resources to obtain a prescription, may turn to herbal supplements as an alternative treatment route. Although supplement drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, taking them along with prescribed medications or on their own may provide some relief from symptoms caused by severe mood swings. Sam-E, St. John's wort and omega-3 fatty acids are a few of the herbal supplements used to reduce symptoms. Because any type of drug complication can cause adverse reactions or side effects, it's always best to consult with a physician when considering herbal supplement treatment.

Psychotherapy Treatment

• Biochemical imbalances in the brain are just one aspect of conditions where severe mood swings are present. Psychological problems brought on by how a person perceives her life circumstances, and how she processes incoming information, also work to aggravate the condition. Psychotherapy treatment is typically administered along with medication to help restructure the faulty thought processes that accompany these disorders. Cognitive psychotherapy and behavioral therapy approaches are the models most often used to address an individual's emotional issues and thinking patterns.