So, you’re having a bad day, and everyone seems to be irritated. You’ve crawled into an isolated corner but still can’t eliminate the anger within you. These are the classic signs of a bad mood. There are certain factors we encounter daily that can influence our mood.
There are many such mood-changing variables as poor nutritional habits, loss of a loved one, physical activity, the season of the year, financial standing, sleep, and social well-being. Intolerable neighbors and coworkers, health status, posture, family stability, menstrual cycle, exposure to unfortunate boden news, social media use, emotional involvement with a lover, clutter, and even the color you’re wearing can trigger a bad mood.
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Since the triggers for a bad mood are numerous and inevitable, it is of utmost importance to learn ways by which you can improve your mood. While it’s okay to have blue days and accept your emotions, it is only reasonable to work out ways to pull yourself off the trenches when you eventually get there.
Ways to improve a bad mood
Here are some options to try when you feel downbeat.
CBD can help to improve your bad mood
CBD is one of the chemical compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant, also known as marijuana or hemp. CBD capsules, oils, vapes, gummies etc., can help you improve your mood. The Serotonin compound found in the brain is a neurotransmitter that is chief in regulating mood. It might also contribute to feelings of happiness and well-being. Thus, serotonin is implicated at the onset of depression, and the mechanism of action of several antidepressant drugs is by causing an increase in serotonin levels in the brain.
One class of scientific studies suggests that CBD helps to alleviate symptoms of depression by interacting with the serotonin receptors in the brain. Another study published in 2018 claims that CBD does not elevate serotonin levels but instead works by influencing how the brain responds to Serotonin already in the brain.
Do Something New
Rather than sulking in the gloom all around you, you can improve your mood by doing something new. The good news is that adding something small to a routine can brighten your day. You can take a chai in place of coffee, drive to work via a different route, or wear something different from the style of clothing you are known for. Wear a different color shade.
Consider laughter as well as laughter is a medicine that can cheer you up and reduce feelings of anxiety. The good news is that the cause of the laughter does not have to be “genuine” to have a positive effect. So even when it seems like there is no reason to be happy, amaze everyone with a new you. Besides, you can head over to YouTube or Instagram for some funny clips.
Go Through Old Memories
Recent studies suggest retrieving positive memories elevates positive emotions and establishes a mood regulation effect. The body achieves this by activating the brain reward circuit. Therefore, it feels good and soothing to recall the good times. The bitter-sweet yearning for the things of the past (nostalgia) can bring back emotions tied to the original experience.
This is why remembering your wedding day, graduation day, or even a game-winning goal in a championship game would undoubtedly trigger a re-experience of positive emotions associated with that day. You would smile when you remember how happy you felt. So, it isn’t a waste of time to look at happy photos or spend some minutes thinking back on positive memories. It helps!
Count Your Blessings.
Gratitude is being thankful for what an individual was given, tangible or intangible. Through appreciation, people can easily acknowledge the goodness in their lives. Gratefulness helps people recognize that the source of goodness lies partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful would help you connect to something infallible than yourself.
Note that you are probably in a bad mood because all you acknowledge are the bad things happening to you. However, if you truly examine your situation, you will find some good things too. With this, try and think about and write down all you’re thankful for. Look around for all the little blessings, and after this exercise of expressing gratitude, you will find an instant mood boost.
Listen to music
Scientists have pondered the possible therapeutic and mood-enhancing benefits of music for centuries. In recent reviews in the World Journal of Psychiatry, it was found that music therapy could become an effective treatment for mood disorders related to specific neurological conditions. These conditions included; Parkinson’s disease, dementia, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.
These studies have established music-mood therapy, and today, it is well known that music can boost happiness and reduce anxiety. Even sad music brings many listeners pleasure and comfort, according to research from Durham University in the United Kingdom and the University of Jyväskyläin, Finland. So put on your favorite album, and soon enough, you will catch yourself humming, smiling, and swaying to the rhythm in no time!
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Conclusion
Now that you know these fantastic ways to improve your mood, try them out. You certainly cannot force yourself into a good mood; however, the good news is that no mood sticks around forever. Suppose a lousy mood lasts more than two or more straight weeks; seek professional help as this might indicate other underlying conditions.
