Does your teenager suddenly get angry for no reason, or sometimes stay silent for hours? If yes, then you are not alone in facing this situation.
Teenage mood swings are one of the most confusing things for parents, which sometimes makes them worried. But is it just hormonal changes or something else?
And the most important question is at what age do teenage mood swings stop? In this article, we will understand why the emotions of teenagers are so unstable, how long do they last, and how parents can improve this situation with understanding and love.
Teenage Mood Swings: Are these Normal or a Matter of Concern?
If your teenager’s mood suddenly changes, sometimes he is happy, then in a few moments he becomes sad or angry, then you do not need to panic because this is a part of teenage mood swings.
Such unique changes in the child sometimes surprise us, but according to science, this is a normal process of development that every child goes through.
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Why do Teenage Mood Swings Occur?
The biggest reason for teenage mood swings is the development of the child’s body. Let’s understand this in a simple way. When children enter the age of 10–13 years, the level of hormones like testosterone and estrogen in their body starts increasing rapidly.
These hormones not only bring changes in the child’s body, but also affect the flow of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in his brain,
due to which the child’s mood changes frequently. But this happens because the hormone “prefrontal cortex” that controls it is not fully developed, whereas the prefrontal cortex hormone is responsible for decision making, emotion control and logic.
Due to the weakening of the prefrontal cortex hormone in adolescence, fluctuations in teen emotions are common. But there is also a unique (report) related to this,
which tells that instability in the mood of adolescents is also related to their efforts to build self-construction and social identity.
They display different emotional colors in an attempt to discover themselves, experiment and look ‘cool’. Which we often feel in our family and society as well.
Are Teenager Mood Swings a Matter of Concern?
In most cases, teenager mood swings are normal because they become normal in some time, but if the child is sad for weeks, is angry, keeps himself closed, does not like to talk to anyone or seems disappointed with life,
then this is not just a part of the teenage emotions list but can be a sign of a deeper problem such as depression or anxiety. In such a situation,
parents need to take a strong decision for the child and need to consult a psychology specialist. You should understand that there is a reason behind every person’s efforts or feelings,
so if the child also has mood swings, try to find out the reason for it. It is possible that he is a victim of some stress due to which his mood swings occur.
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When do Teenage Mood Swings start?
When a child enters teenage (13–19 years), physical and mental changes take place in him. During this time, those small changes start,
which we often know by words like “irritability”, “getting angry at every small thing”, or “sometimes very happy and sometimes quiet” i.e.
teenage mood swings because by this age children start understanding a lot of things and if they are not satisfied with something, the child’s reaction is seen in the form of mood swings.
But when the question comes that “when do teenage mood swings start?”, the answer to this is that usually mood swings of children start between the ages of 10 to 13 years.
But it is easy to control it because it is a natural process of the child which happens due to his physical changes.
Early Onset: Why Does it Start at The Age of 10 to 13 years?
- At this age children move towards puberty and enter puberty.
- The level of testosterone (in boys) and estrogen (in girls) increases in the body, which directly affects the emotional center of the brain, Amygdala, so mood swings are seen.
- At this time mood swings are intense because the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for control and making decisions wisely, is not fully developed yet, but with time all this gets cured or by explaining to the child.
Who is Affected Quickly by Mood Swings? Girls vs Boys
When it comes to teenage mood swings, it becomes very important to know that these changes are not the same in every teenager. Teen emotions appear at different times and intensities in boys and girls, mainly due to the age of onset of puberty.
A 2018 study found that girls start showing high levels of emotional reactivity at the age of 11, while in boys these changes usually occur after 13.
Therefore, many researchers say that mood swings in girls often start 1–2 years earlier than in boys, because their puberty cycle begins early and boys start late.
At What Age Do Teenage Mood Swings Stop?
Parents of teenagers often ask a question “When will these mood swings stop?” Because it is important to know the answer to this question. But in this matter, we get this answer from science that generally, by the age of 19 to 21 years,
the mood of children starts becoming a little stable because they are maturing and teenage mood swings start reducing.
The reason for this is that part of the brain which is called “Prefrontal Cortex”. This part helps us to think, understand, control and take decisions.
This part is not fully developed in teenage and due to this, teenager mood swings occur repeatedly. So now the question arises that at what age do teenage mood swings stop?
The answer is that as the child grows older, this part of the brain, Prefrontal Cortex, becomes stronger, and they start learning to control teen emotions.
A 2015 study by ScienceDaily shows that mood swings in most teenagers gradually decrease between the ages of 19–21 and the condition is completely cured by the age of 22–24.
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Why Does it Take Longer for Teenager Mood Swings to End in Some People?
We all believe that the mental development of every child is different, so in some teenagers mood swings end quickly, while in some this condition persists for a long time and the main reason for this is the child’s childhood experience.
If a child faces a lot of stress, fear, loneliness or neglect in childhood, then it also affects his brain.
Especially those parts of the brain such as prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which handle our emotions, are not able to develop that well.
The result is that such children start feeling angry, irritable or sad over small things and this condition can last for a long time. According to a research, children who suffer childhood trauma have high levels of stress hormone (cortisol), due to which their mood keeps changing frequently.
But the good thing is that if such children get love, security and mental support, then gradually their mood starts becoming stable and they too can live a normal life.
How to Support Teens in Mood Swings?
Living with a teenager can sometimes be an emotional ordeal. Sometimes they laugh out loud, and sometimes they are completely silent and angry.
During this time, it is important for parents to understand how to handle teenage mood swings, and not just stop or scold them. A child feels insecure about himself during adolescence,
and scolding or interrupting him for every small thing can make him more irritable. Many researches show that less sleep and an unbalanced routine can make teen mood swings more intense.
8–10 hours of sleep, proper diet, and limiting screen time can control this instability to a great extent. Do not interrupt children repeatedly, but talk to them gently. Ask questions that open them up, not shut them down.
Eating too much junk food and sweets can worsen teenager mood swings, so control it. Most importantly, make them feel that their every emotion, be it anger or sadness, is valid and important for you, so that they will learn to control themselves.
5 Practical Tips to Handle Teen Mood Swings
- Do not respond immediately to every reaction of the child. Take some time to think calmly and then react.
- Set the daily routine of the child. Make a time table for his sleep, eating, studying and playing so that he understands the rules and avoids anger.
- Use supportive words like I love you, we care for you, you look great today, etc. This will increase the child’s confidence and also love towards the parents, which reduces the chances of mood swings.
- Avoid interrupting too much, instead observe and gently guide the child.
- Focus on nutrition. A balanced diet works as a mood stabilizer (mood relaxing Foods)
Conclusion
When it comes to teenage mood swings, there is no one exact answer. Even though research shows that generally at what age do teenage mood swings stop i.e. between 19 and 21 years of age, every teen lives this journey in his own way,
so there can be differences in it.Remember, the ups and downs in teen emotions are not just due to hormones, but are a part of identity,
pressure, and trying to understand the world. To handle them, patience, consistency and most of all unconditional love are necessary.
If we give our children a safe space where they can express themselves without fear of judgment, then perhaps teen mood swings will calm down quickly.