You can only blame lack of sleep for so much before you start asking “Why is my mood so inconsistent!”  Turns out, it’s not just fatigue – it’s actually a common symptom of MS! As with many invisible symptoms that can occur with MS, mood swings can have a profound effect on relationships and emotional health as a whole.

Our phenomenal contributor, Devin, described this frustrating symptom perfectly in his recent article “Invisible Symptoms of MS: Mood Swings” and the community rallied behind him sharing their own stories and support.

It became clear that this is not uncommon, and while difficult to manage, having the support of other people with MS can make all the difference. Here are just some of the comments our community members shared:

Sometimes, even I can’t figure out why I’m upset

• I never thought my mood swings could be MS- related. Sometimes I can’t explain to myself why I’m reacting as I am.
• Since my diagnosis, I cry at every chick flick and even the Budweiser Clydesdale commercials! I can’t seem to get my emotions together sometimes
• There are times I know I’m picking a fight with my husband about something stupid, but I don’t even know why I’m upset!

I just thought I was crazy!

• I always thought it was just who I am. An emotional roller coaster with frequent break downs.
• The problem is most people don’t know about this symptom, so I get more depressed because I feel like people think I’m losing your mind.
• I always know when my meds aren’t working because I start to feel like I’m going crazy – then I have a lot of people to apologize to
• I just thought I had gone crazy: I didn’t think it could be a MS symptom. It puts my mind at ease to know I’m not alone.
• I thought I was just a raving lunatic!

Knowing why is one thing; managing these swings is another!

• It feels normal in the moment; not until after that I look back and realize just how moody I was being. I know it’s the MS, but I don’t know how to control it
• I definitely get moody, but what can you do? I just live with it and try to stay strong! Laughter is key.
• I can feel it coming on – as soon as I start to feel practically homicidal I isolate myself in my room and wait it out.
• Knowing my MS was the cause of my mood swings was a relief, but finding ways to conquer them is the next challenge.

How about you? Have mood swings impacted your life? Have you found any good approaches for managing these? Feel free to share with the community – you are not alone!