Mood tone refers to the level of mood that a person might be experiencing – how balanced it is, and how it might change or fluctuate depending on situations. Keeping the tone or level of moods stable is important for a large number of reasons, including long-term health.
Keeping a balanced mood is also important for everyday wellbeing. If people are experiencing low mood, feelings might include sadness, tiredness, increased tension or anxiety, and might last a few days. Low moods are a natural part of life rather than a medical condition, but it is important to recognise them and recognise if they may be becoming a longer-term problem.
Neuraxpharm provides natural alternatives for mood tone and once your healthcare professional has determined your specific needs, they can advise the product that best adapts to your needs and condition.
Find out more about how to keep a balanced mood, the scientific reasons for low mood, what causes these feelings, what to look out for, who might be most susceptible, and what can be done to mitigate them.
Mood tone refers to the level of a person’s mood – how balanced it is in any given situation. Keeping the tone of our moods balanced is important not only for mental wellbeing, but also for physical health.
A balanced mood is one in which emotions are relatively stable, and there are no prominent feelings of anxiety, worry or sadness. Those in balanced moods are likely to be able to go about their days in their usual manner, without giving too much thought to things that might go wrong or that they might need to worry about. Experiencing balanced moods, as well as low moods, is a natural part of life.
There are a huge number of factors that affect mood tone, including environment, life events and personal circumstances.
Poor mood tone (or ‘low mood’) is described by scientists as being based on ‘rewards’, and how often people feel like they are receiving them. For example, a person might be in a low mood during winter, when they might subconsciously start to feel that a lack of light is a kind of punishment. This low mood might continue when these perceived ‘non-rewards’ or ‘punishments’ (e.g. long winter evenings) seem to continue.
Psychiatrists also believe that evolution has caused us to tend towards low mood rather than positivity, as a survival technique. Low mood has been described as “an adaptive response to unfavourable circumstances” – i.e. people use it for self-preservation when things get tough.
There is no set reason for low mood; different people have entirely different circumstances that affect how they feel at certain times or on certain days (some people, for example, will enjoy cosy winter evenings, and not perceive them as a ‘punishment’ at all.) This means that low mood can be difficult for medical professionals to recognise.
People’s moods are hugely important, because they can lead to other health disorders if they remain persistently low. A persistent low mood is likely to have negative consequences in the long-term, so it is important to think about how it can be addressed.
Being aware of what has caused a low mood may be useful in managing it, and might lead someone to make changes in lifestyle that will improve the way they feel in the long-term.
It will come as no surprise that there are many reasons for low mood. Sometimes it might be a consequence of major life events, whilst in other cases it might be caused by incidents that could be perceived as minor – but that still have significant mood-altering consequences for the individual.
Various causes of low mood have been cited by experts. In children and adolescents, low mood might come as a result of poor family support, maladjustment to school, inability to cope in social situations, or low levels of physical activity. In adults, studies have attributed low mood to events including the death of loved ones, romantic break-ups, social isolation, failure to reach specified goals, marital status and living situation, and general stress.
Whilst these are far-reaching causes that might have a wider impact on other areas of life, there can be more specific causes for low mood too. These could include anything from vitamin D deficiency to the side effects of hormonal contraception, dealing with cancer, having unexplained medical symptoms, or having an illness such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Good mood tone can be classed as one where no strong emotional events are occurring, and will usually be characterised by feelings of calm, positivity, happiness, acceptance and very little sense of anxiety or tension. Someone experiencing a good mood may feel more motivated to go outside, more energised to see friends, and more positive generally about the future.
There are various things to look out for if you suspect someone may be struggling to keep a balanced mood.
Difficulties with balancing mood can affect anyone, at any age. Children, adolescents, working age adults and older people might all find themselves suffering from low mood, for various reasons. As noted above, though, people may be more likely to experience low mood at certain stages of life.
Mood is dependent on many factors, including the context and circumstances of individuals, and isn’t a diagnosable condition, meaning there isn’t a set medical way to approach treating it. There are, however, various things that individuals can do themselves to keep their mood balanced.
It is important to note that low mood is not a medical diagnosis. However, people who have tried various methods to elevate their moods themselves and haven’t found any effective remedy might consider seeking help from a professional to improve their state of mind. Professional support could include, but is not limited to:
Current research into mood tone focuses on the effects of low mood on individuals in certain specific contexts: those with certain medical conditions or who have suffered trauma in the past, for example. There is currently little research into low mood amongst the general population. Studies tend to focus on how individuals mitigate the effects of their low moods, and how lifestyle changes can be implemented in order to positively affect mental health, rather than focusing on a medical approach.
Research has focused on how individuals self-medicate, including through alcohol, and how marital and living situations can influence low mood. Amongst children, environmental contexts and physical activity have been considered, as well as diagnoses of illnesses including cancer. Studies have also looked into whether there is an easier way to diagnose patients with low mood, as it is something that is not often diagnosed in primary care settings.
Mental health
Mental health
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