Kim: Hi I'm Kim. Teeyana: Hi I'm Teeyana
Kim: Snd today we're going to be talking about mood swings
Kim: What are made things and why might we experience them?
Teeyana: Mood swings can be a
change between different emotions they can be unpredicted and conflicting
you might also feel like you can't control them when I have had couple of
mood swings they have been because of unexpected
situations like bad news or maybe I just got involved with someone I didn't like.
Kim: And what could bring them on?
Teeyana: Puberty maybe you're coming on to your period
lack of sleep, stress, coming off your medication, going on medication and also
mental health I know I've struggled with mental health as well where I struggled
with depression and my moods were all over the place and I just didn't
understand what was going on.
Kim: So how do you know what you're experiencing is 'normal'?
Teeyana: Checking in with yourself and just being very self aware is so
important a lot of the times as well I like to journal, Childline offer a mood
journal online where it's confidential between you and Childline and as time
goes by you can go back to the journal and also just go over and check like
every experience why you for all the emotions you went through everything
that happened and it's I think it's just an amazing way to reflect on your
emotions and a lot at a time when you look back on it you just realize none of
that matters right now so it's like a little check-in for yourself.
Kim: So if you've been tracking your mood and you're worried who could you talk to about that?
Teeyana: You could talk to a carer a parent a trusted friend or maybe even
your GP, Childline also offer a message board which you can post anonymously or
you can call up for the Childline counsellor.
Kim: So have mood swings ever affected your relationships?
Teeyana: I had an argument on my sister yesterday and
after the argument I decided to apologise and I think it's okay for you
to be vulnerable and just apologize when you've upset people and also as well
just communicate to people how you feel just let them know I feel anxious today
if you let people know then they'll understand why the energy is a bit down
and they can respond to that and also look after you as well.
Kim: So let's talk about some different emotions and how you might deal with them
maybe would start with anger?
Teeyana: I try to relax, count to ten, I think about it I go to cool
down if I'm, for example, confronting someone maybe it's best to
just pause and be like let's talk when we're both in a calmer mind state I also
love to go to the gym so exercising really allows all my stress to come out
and also as well sometimes just let your anger out you can't always hold it in
so maybe punching a pillow not a person.
Kim: So what if you feel low or helpless?
Teeyana: I like to do something creative I like to go on a walk
maybe write stuff that I'm seeing just to take my mind off of that state
of mind and I know that Childline have art box as well where you can go online you
can draw, I'll probably meet up with my friends and do probably a fun activity
you could also if it's getting really bad just talk to a counsellor or talk to
a trusted friend or your parent or carer.
Kim: What could we do if we felt numb or empty?
Teeyana: Maybe activating your five senses
smelling the food that you love, eating the food that you love, I love listening
to music, gospel music that uplifts my soul, watching a film that you love or
just seeing something that makes you really happy and maybe even touch - like I
have my lovely big furry coat and I just love the way it makes me feel.
Kim: Feeling positive and energetic can be great but sometimes this energy isn't good for us
what could you do to help with that?
Teeyana: Sometimes when you have like a big
decision sleeping on it maybe asking your friends and family for advice as
well as just not be an impulsive cutting down on some caffeine looking
after your body and your mind maybe meditating and checking how you eat but
all those little factors help with just controlling your energy and not being
too overwhelmed by it.
Kim: Thank you so much for coming in Teeyana Teeyana: Thank you for having me
Kim: And we'll see you next time, bye. Teeyana: Bye.