10 reasons you could lose your temper

Find it hard to control your rage? Photo / Thinkstock

Been accused of waking up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Here are ten possible explanations for that bad temper.

1. You have bipolar disorder

Extreme mood swings can indicate mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder. Often patients will seek help when they are depressed, but not when their mood is manic.

2. Teenage tantrum

Most parents have to deal with hormone changes in their children. Trying to find their place in the adult world consumes so much of their energy and focus that they appear irritable if anyone intrudes on their thought processes, and parents often bear the brunt of it.

.3. ..or a lack of them

The hormones that trigger ovulation and menstruation are important for releasing the mood-regulating chemical serotonin. As these hormones decline during the menopause, so too do serotonin levels. When serotonin levels are high, your mood soars - conversely when they are low, your mood can plummet.

4. It's a hormone rush...

During a menstrual cycle, levels of hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall. Hormone changes are thought to be the biggest contributing factor to many of the symptoms of PMS, including mood swings. Sufferers report fluctuating moods up to two weeks prior to their periods starting.

5. Caffeine jitters

Most people can drink up to two cups of coffee a day, but caffeine in excess can cause jitters and heart palpitations, and influence mood as a result. The same goes for sugar. It might give you an energy boost at first, but when it wears off, we tend to deplete our energy stores, causing a dip in mood.

6. You aren't getting enough sleep

Scientists have found that not getting a good night's sleep can significantly alter your mood, causing irritability and anger. The "walking tired" are more likely to sit and seethe in traffic jams and quarrel with other people. Lower alertness and concentration can lead to you being more easily confused, and exacerbate moody behaviour.

7. ...or maybe you're depressed

Not everyone with depression expresses sadness - some become angry or agitated instead. In addition to mood swings, other symptoms include difficulty in concentrating, fatigue and insomnia.

8. Feeling stressed?

Worrying about money, relationships or work causes your body to release stress hormones. In the short term, stress "revs up" your body and heightens your ability to carry out tasks, but over time it can have a negative effect on how you cope with situations and can cause highs and lows in mood.

9. Are you hungry?

When blood sugar is low, the imbalance of hormones in the brain suppresses serotonin, which controls appetite. Cut off your body's ability to process it, and prepare for mood swings. Not everyone who skips lunch will turn into The Hulk, however - blood sugar has to drop to almost half its usual level, which usually involves several hours of not eating.

10. Drinking too much

Alcohol can disrupt the balance of chemicals in the brain, affecting thoughts, feelings and actions. The relaxed feeling you get when you have your first glass can help you be more confident and less anxious because the alcohol is starting to depress the area of the brain associated with inhibition. But the more you drink, the greater the effect, and negative responses can take over, resulting in swings in temperament.

- Daily Mail