You might consider yourself to be a reasonable and balanced person most of the time. It is normal for people to experience different emotions, but they are elicited by certain events and triggers. Some people, especially women going through menopause, can experience a range of emotions, but for reasons that are sometimes inexplicable. Uncontrollable emotional outbursts caused by no apparent outside stimuli are called mood swings and they are commonly experienced by menopausal women.
Certain practices like meditation can help control your mood swings. Meditation is a technique that helps you to stabilize your attention and live more in the present. Different types of meditation include mindfulness meditation, labyrinth walking, mantra meditation, yoga, tai chi, and zen meditation. Finding a type of meditation that fits your lifestyle and personality can go a long way.
Why Do I Experience Mood Swings?
During menopause, hormone levels can change drastically. Hormones play a vital role in regulating the function of your body both physically and emotionally. When levels of certain hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, your emotions may change as well. Mood swings during menopause can also have non-hormonal causes and be related to stresses that are part of life.
The Art of Keeping Your Cool: How to Meditate in Three Easy Steps
Meditation is a practice of balancing the mind and body that enables you to focus your attention to achieve a greater state of calmness and balance. Through meditation, you can learn how to control and connect with your thoughts and emotions. Follow the steps below to learn how to meditate.
Step 1: Let go
Without believing in meditation, you'll never be able to reach that state of pure relaxation. Set aside enough time so that you can focus on meditating, and not other obligations and distractions.
Step 2: Location, location, location
To meditate, you have to be in a quiet and peaceful place, both emotionally and physically. You won't be able to achieve zen in a noisy and distracting environment. Try to find a space where you feel safe and calm.
Step 3: It's all in the mind
Settle into a meditation posture and concentrate. Clear the mind of any distractions and make it lucid. As you focus on your breathing, your thoughts will gradually subside and you will reach a state of relaxation and peace.
Give yourself some time to find an appropriate environment and timeframe in which to meditate. Once you become more in tune with your body and thoughts, you will be able to better control your mood swings. Click on the following link to learn about other ways to combat your mood swings.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858
- Public Broadcasting Service. (2011). Meditation. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/topic/meditation/meditation