It's hard to believe that one day you feel great emotionally and then the very next day or very next moment you can feel depressed. Many times as women we cry out to God, wondering why we're so up and down, feeling inept spiritually, lacking for energy and longing for more stability.
Or maybe our to-do list seems to grow daily, but we wonder, "What have I accomplished today that will make a difference in the bigger scheme of life?" When we roll out of bed, God is ready to accomplish much through us, but through our fast-paced life and distractions, and dealing with hormone issues and mood swings on top of that, we sit back and wonder, "What did He accomplish in me today?"
Having these swings not only creates an incredible amount of stress to an already stressful, busy life, but it makes you feel guilty and half-crazy! The important thing to understand is that there are several types of "mood problems" that can be easily reduced or eliminated by balancing important brain chemicals.
I'm thankful for integrative medicine, and willing doctors who will treat these imbalances and mood related problems women struggle with, often feeling they aren't "spiritual enough" when realistically their imbalances are where the deficit lies.
The mood imbalances must first be defined! Here are the four mood imbalances according to Julia Ross:
The Dark Cloud of Depression
If you're high in serotonin - you're positive, confident, flexible, and easy-going. If you're sinking in serotonin - you'll tend to become negative, obsessive, worried, irritable, and sleepless.
The Blahs
If you're high in catecholamines - you're energized, upbeat, and alert. If your catecholamines have crashed - you'll sink into a flat apathetic funk.
Anxiety and Stress
If you're high in GABA - you're relaxed and stress-free. If there's a gap in your GABA - you'll be wired, stressed, and overwhelmed.
Oversensitive Feelings
If you're high in endorphins - you're full of cozy feelings of comfort, pleasure, and euphoria. If you're near the end of your endorphins - you'll be crying during commercials and overly sensitive to hurt.
As you can see, it is vital that the brain is balanced just right to insure that you have the correct amount of each of the above to feel well emotionally.
Become an observer of your moods and in tune with your mind and body. Often bad moods are very preventable with the right balance. You can feel good again. And recognizing the need for help and balance can actually help you discover personal renewal and growth to become stronger mentally and physically.
That is how God wants us to live. A life where we love each other and encourage each other in our faith.
"Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time--pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something." (2 Thessalonians 1:11, The Message)
*Note: This article addresses general health concepts. It's not intended to replace treatments or information supplied by your doctor.