Emotional swings in relationships: what it is, signs, causes, how to get rid of

psychoanalytical psychologist, CPT, coach

“Every day we experience a dynamic and often unpredictable flow of emotions. Therefore, understanding and being able to manage our moods has become an increasingly important aspect of our lives. From oscillating between joy and sadness to anger and peacefulness, every state plays a key role in psychological well-being and overall health. Let’s explore what emotional swings are and how they affect our behavior.”

Table of Contents

What we’ll talk about

What is emotional swing?

Emotional swing is a concept that describes the fluctuation of a person’s mood and state of mind from one state to another at different points in time. Let’s break it down in more detail. This term refers to the variability of the emotional background, the ability of people to experience both positive and negative states. They can change depending on circumstances, situations or external stimuli.

Emotional swings occur due to a variety of factors. For example, stress, joy, grief, excitement and other states. Also, internal conflicts and external influences can cause emotional instability. The study of this phenomenon helps to understand the psychological world of a person and his reactions to the environment.

How do emotional swings affect the body?

Often a strong experience is accompanied by a number of physiological changes in the human body. Let’s understand the dangers of emotional swings.

Cardiovascular system. During the experience of strong emotions, the heartbeat increases, and blood pressure rises. This is due to the activation of the nervous system and the release of adrenaline.
Respiratory system. How does this happen? Under the influence of stress or excitement, breathing can become rapid and shallow. This helps the body get more oxygen to help organs work more efficiently when threatened.
Nervous and endocrine system. Emotions activate different parts of the brain, such as the limbic system and the cerebral cortex. For example, a person experiences prolonged stress. Then the adrenal glands, which are responsible for the production of cortisol, begin to be actively activated. This is a stress hormone that keeps the body in a state of alertness. Its release can cause a malfunction of the thyroid gland.
Peripheral changes. During stress or fear, the skin becomes pale due to redistribution of blood flow in the body. Sweating, muscle tremors and other similar reactions may also occur.

These physiological changes are related to evolutionary survival mechanisms. They helped humans adapt to dangerous situations. Understanding these processes is important for psychologists and psychophysiology professionals when working with human mood and stress management.

Studying the topic of emotional swings helps to better understand the human psyche. It also allows for the development of techniques and strategies to help people in crisis. Emotional swing is an important aspect to understand and evaluate the human psychological state and overall health.

External factors affecting emotions

It is worth noting the significance and various manifestations of the impact of external factors on the fluctuations of the emotional state. What causes emotional swings?

Interaction with other people, sociocultural norms and standards of behavior can have a strong influence on mood. A frequent companion of swings is low self-esteem. High expectations of oneself, conflicts with others, and social isolation can all trigger a variety of emotional reactions.
A number of stressful situations and events seriously affect the emotional state. For example, financial problems, loss of a loved one, conflicts at work. The level of stress and the ability to cope with it have a significant impact on emotional well-being.
Health, physical activity levels, nutrition, sleep, and other aspects of physical well-being are important factors that affect a person. For example, lack of sleep or low mobility can lead to mood changes.
Cultural characteristics shape norms and values. They can influence the expression and perception of emotions. How exactly? Different cultures have their own approaches to expressing and perceiving emotions.
Weather, time of year, lighting, noise levels and other environmental factors can also affect emotional state.

All these external factors interact with a person’s internal psychological mechanisms and biological processes to create a complex environment. In it, emotions are formed and manifested. Understanding the influence of external factors on mood swings helps you manage your state more effectively and respond to external challenges.

Types of emotional swings

Studying this phenomenon, we can conditionally divide the types of emotional swings.

The first kind is positive. This is a swing of emotions in a positive direction. For example, joy, delight, satisfaction, gratitude and others. Research shows that positive emotions play an important role in human mental health and well-being.

A positive mood helps to reduce stress and fear levels. Joy, elation, and satisfaction can help a person cope with tension and improve their overall emotional well-being. They also increase mood, energy levels and motivation.

Feelings of joy and happiness contribute to a positive emotional background. This has a favorable effect on one’s overall well-being. Some studies link positive emotions with immune system enhancement. A favorable state can help the body better cope with illness and stress.

Social engagement is also worth noting. Positive emotions make a person more open, welcoming and friendly. This contributes to better relationships with others, increases social support and a sense of connection with others.

The second type is negative emotional swing. This is a swing toward negative states. For example, sadness, anger, anxiety. These emotions can have a serious impact on a person’s mental and physical health.

Experiencing negative states on a regular basis leads to an increase in stress and anxiety levels. This, in turn, has a negative impact on a person’s overall well-being and health.

Constant experience of negative emotions can lead to the development of depression, apathy and deterioration of mood. A person loses interest in life, experiences a feeling of emptiness and alienation.

Negative emotions, such as anger and irritation, can lead to conflicts and disintegration of relationships with loved ones and surrounding people. The same creates additional stress and reduces the quality of life.

Also, negative emotions can affect the ability to concentrate, make rational decisions and cope with daily tasks. A person starts having difficulty in work and learning due to negative states.

Therefore, it is important to be able to manage one’s emotions, find ways to cope with negative moods and strive to create a balance between positive and negative states to maintain mental and physical health.

Emotional swings in relationships

Relationships between people can often be compared to swings that go up and down. At times, they throw us into a whirlpool of strong feelings and emotions.

Why do emotional swings occur in a couple?

Emotional swings in relationships can occur for a variety of reasons. It is usually due to the complex dynamics of communication between partners. Here are a few common ways emotional swings in relationships manifest and cause them to occur.

1. Stress. Situations that cause stress for one or both partners can cause a change in their emotional state. What follows is the beginning of a swing in the relationship. Perhaps one of you experiences stress at work and then becomes irritable and disgruntled. This leads to conflicts in the couple.

2. Dissatisfaction. Unmet needs or unclear expectations in your relationship can be frustrating and annoying. This factor can also cause emotional swings.

3. disagreement and conflict. Differences in views, values, or ways of solving problems can cause conflict and lead to emotional swings.

In a couple, each partner has needs – physical, emotional, and psychological. If these are not being met, it can lead to emotional swings.

For example, one partner needs more attention and support than the other. And expectations are capable of differing for both. If one wants more attention, care, and understanding than the other can or will provide, this will cause frustration and emotional swings.

4- Routine and monotony. Meaningless routine and lack of variety in a relationship can cause emotional cooling and cause swinging.

5. Communication deficit. Ineffective communication, lack of candor and understanding can lead to the accumulation of negative emotions and exacerbate conflicts. Lack of open and honest communication, mutual understanding, inability to express their feelings and thoughts – all this contributes to the emergence of swings in relationships.

How to get rid of emotional swings in relationships?

It is important to be attentive to the emotions of both your own and your partner. Try to discuss the problems that arise, seek compromise and work on improving communication. Understanding the causes of conflicts and being able to find a solution together will help to strengthen the relationship and cope with these difficulties.

It is important to realize that emotional swings in a couple are a natural phenomenon. It can arise from a variety of factors. Understanding and being willing to discuss your feelings and needs with your partner will help manage these swings and strengthen the relationship.

It is also helpful to develop emotional intelligence skills, the ability to control your state of mind and empathize with the feelings of others. Communication, support and mutual understanding are the main pillars on which you can build a strong and long-lasting relationship.

Dealing with emotional swings will take time, patience and cooperation. Remember that it is impossible to avoid conflicts or swings completely. However, you can learn how to manage them effectively to maintain harmony in the relationship.

How to deal with emotional swings?

There are many methods of regulating states that will help you get rid of emotional swings and achieve a balance between positive and negative feelings. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.

Practicing meditation, deep breathing, yoga or other relaxation methods will help calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety levels. Such exercises improve your overall well-being. Regular meditation will uncover your emotions, become aware of them and learn to manage them more effectively.
Engaging in sports, exercise or walking outdoors can help release energy and tension, improve your mood and reduce stress levels. Physical activity promotes the production of endorphins, the happy hormones.
Support and understanding from loved ones play an important role in regulating the condition. Communication, conversations, expressing your feelings and experiences help to live through accumulated emotions.
Working on self-awareness, self-analysis, understanding one’s moods and sources of negative feelings helps to better manage the condition.
Practicing positive thinking, looking for the good things in everyday life, and realizing gratitude for what you already have helps increase the level of positive emotions.
It is important to be able to set healthy boundaries in your interactions with others, as well as taking time to relax. Taking care of yourself and being physically and emotionally calm promotes recovery and strengthens your emotional state.

Fighting emotional swings can be challenging, but it is doable. It is important to choose methods of state regulation that suit you personally. Then, practice them regularly to maintain balance and mental health.

Emotional swing is a concept that describes changes in our mood. By understanding how it works, we can effectively manage our state and respond appropriately to different situations. We begin to interact more consciously with the world around us, make informed decisions and avoid irrational actions under the influence of emotions.

In addition, the ability to switch between different states enables us to adapt to changing conditions and cope with the challenges of everyday life. Accepting and understanding our emotions also plays an important role in our well-being. It helps us to know ourselves, our needs and values more deeply, which in turn promotes self-identity and personal growth.

It is important to note that emotional swings are not always a negative phenomenon. Experiencing a variety of states, even negative ones, can be beneficial to our self-improvement. It helps us identify our needs, learn to adapt to change, and develop coping strategies.