8 Facts You Should Know about Your Mood
Mood is defined as a temporary state of mind. It refers to what you feel at the moment – whether you’re happy or sad, afraid or determined, overjoyed or depressed. Mood is a significant predictor of well-being. It is therefore important that we understand our mood and make every effort to keep it balanced.
Here are some interesting facts about mood that might help put back the smile on your face.
Moods are contagious. Ever wondered why movies can make you laugh or cry? That’s because moods and emotions are contagious. We tend to ‘catch’ the mood of others connected to us, even those we do not personally know but have affected our lives somehow. What does this suggest? Well, this tells us that being with cheery people is one way to improve our mood. In fact, a 2008 study published in the British Medical Journal revealed that getting connected to happy people improves one’s own level of happiness. So if you want to feel glad and happy, you know what kind of people to talk to.
Exercise improves mood. Exercise is a potential antidote to negative emotions. A study by Norwegian researchers found that people who engaged in any form of exercise for even just a small amount of time reported improved mental health. Another study published in 2005 revealed that exercising for about 35 minutes five times per week could significantly reduce mild to moderate symptoms of depression. Exercise boosts mood by fostering the formation of new neurons in the brain, increasing the levels of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, and boosting blood flow to the brain.
Age doesn’t always affect mood. It’s true that some elderly people in their menopause experience mood swings but this is not always the case. A number of studies suggest that as people grow older, the more they become optimistic. It is speculated that as people begin to realise that they only have a limited number of years left, they make conscious or subconscious decisions to focus on positive thoughts than settle on negative ones.
Quitting smoking uplifts your mood. There is no scientific evidence showing that smoking improves mood but there’s massive evidence supporting the claim that quitting smoking promotes positive mood. Researchers at Brown University found that smokers reported feeling much better after quitting smoking while those who tried to quit but were unable to do so reported experiencing much darker mood.
People in good mood are more likely to be superstitious. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests that people in good more are more likely to be superstitious than those in bad mood. The researchers theorised that happy people tend to "follow their gut" even if it’s not rational since what they are doing so far cheer them up.
Weather affects our mood. Plenty of studies suggest that changes in weather could affect our mood. Sunshine is linked to a brighter mood whilst cold rainy days are often linked to sadness.
SAD can occur at any season. Whilst seasonal affective disorder (SAD) often occurs in winter, it can also occur at any time of the year. It is often linked to the body’s response to varying amounts of sunlight, that’s why it normally occurs when the days are shorter in winter or in other parts of the year when it’s unusually cloudy.
Variation in moods doesn’t always mean depression. Feeling sad and low is normal. But depression is not. Depression is different from normal mood changes due to its severity, symptoms, and the persistent feelings of sadness which usually last for two weeks or so. It is normal to experience mood swings but be wary of their severity and duration. If you think you’re having issues with mood, consider seeing a professional therapist.
Can you suggest natural ways to improve mood? We’d like to know your thoughts. Share your comment below.
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