Mood swings as a late diagnosed adult

I think rapid mood change can be associated with ADHD (I am autistic and ADHD). I don't see why it is strange to be in a good mood, then something is annoying so i get annoyed with it, but sometimes if I am a more relaxed mood I don't get as annoyed.

Hi. This may sound like a weird one, but there is a book 'anger' by the psychologist carol tavis, which describes what anger is. Understanding this perspective on what anger is isnt a cure, and it is better for helping to ignore outbursts on others, rather than your own, but it helps.

Hi AuTriker.

The "several years ago" reference was about a time when I would regularly get angry and verbally aggressive (I'd never get physically aggressive with anyone). I think yes this was a bit of an understatement, but I was thinking more here about the rapid change in mood. We'd just sat down to watch one of my favourite films with my eldest and I was quite happy, and then this incident lead to a complete reverse of that in a very short space of time. I also have instances where I might become very down (I'd avoid saying "depressed" but it's that kind of feeling) as well so it's not just anger.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm going to start trying to reflect on the things that cause the outbursts when they happen and see if I can start identifying them early.

I would say look at the thoughts you're thinking that cause you to get angry.

I have to write down all accidents , anger after they happened and think in my mind what wad a trigger before it happened. Most times i have to stop what i m doing and remove myself in calm space to sit and calm down . If it happenes to my LO - i have to stay still and waite untill he will calm down and again think what was a trigger. By practising like that - you will manage to see those triggers coming in time . Best to stop doing anything and remove yourself from situation. My favourite stimming is - music , walking , fresh air - breathing , or i count in my mind till 100 in 5 . Works everytime for me. You need to find what stim  will work just for you. . I found it getting more hard for me when my brain sensory overloaded. So noises, lights , sounds - really bangs my brain very quick and i can get easily frustrated from sound of people voices for example. It clashes very much with Sensory processing difficulties my 6 y o LO has and his spectrum as we r opposite sometimes. E.g. he is loud and likes to touch everything. I hate sounds around me and cannt stand when someone touches me. 

You probably had panic attack / anxiety that machine would brake ( brain didnt recognise  and didnt read what is going to happened , so you have panicked. Then noise of machine - got on top as sensory processing overload . So it banged for you to do stimming the away of turning it against your partner as she was there . 

Hope that helps. 

My brother, whenever he was younger, switched off the electric supply, to the house, if he didn't get his way. He had a more troubled childhood than me. But he rebuilt his life through Tech. 

I have P5P Vitamin B6 tablets, that I ordered online. 

Take a breathe when you feel yourself get angry

Lately I get upset and angry don't know why. 

My mood just drops and I get frustrated and irritated 

I've been told that going off for breath and quiet can help xx xx

Unless you are using understatement I don't think you have an anger issue if this is the first time you have snapped at your wife in several years! Assuming snapped at just means spoke slightly harshly, or even yelled at.

If it is not understatement, then I and my husband and both my exes and my parents and our friends all have anger issues worse than you! I mean, it's possible we do, but i assumed it was reasonably normal to snap at someone in a stressful situation... Several times a day would be excessive, once a month would seem reasonably calm. How does one know what is normal?

Phil

This is meltdown. Likely to have been stress building for a while and the chocolate machine was just the final straw. May even be due to other, unrelated stresses ir worries. The trick is to read the signs and de-stress in time. I don't always achieve  this but I am getting better. Time alone is best, either a walk or lie down quietly and listen to music or a podcast works for me. Perhaps explain to your wife.

Thanks Debbie. I think I need to try and spot when things are getting difficult and walk away as you suggest.

I think there's an independent disorder that's causes mood swings. It's not bipolar since bipolar is much more intense but I forgot the scientific name of it sorry. Actually I think there might be few of them. I guess reading online how others deal with could help. Some have their own pills to stabilise them. Wellz I don't want to scare you but it's an option!. Otherwise I guess it's good to try to learn the early signs of your anger. Anger has many stages and during the early ones, it's still manageable, when it reaches its top, well, then it might be too late. Also, it's good to learn the early signs of the mood swing itself so you could nurture yourself and avoid demanding tasks, long days or maybe people or whatever might overwhelm you when you aren't ready to deal with it. I'll give you applause for trying to not hurt anyone even tho you did because of a special condition and not intentionally. I try to do the same too. Theory is much easier than practice but good luck! 

Unfortunately I can't stand the flavour of bananas, but I'll definitely try the tablets.

Taken as tablets. Also bananas are good for mood swings. 

I have an autistic friend who I was once in a relationship with.

When he got stressed and frustrated he lost his temper and broke things (usually the thing he was dealing with so he might have broken that chocolate maker).

The solution for him was to live on his own as living together I think was too much of a strain for him.

However, with regard to my own temper I found antidepressants, which deal with the anxiety basis, helped a lot.

Also, I've become more mellow with age and the settling down of my hormones.

I'd suggest walking away from a situation like the one you describe, and perhaps let your wife take over.

Go to a quiet place and be on your own until you have calmed down.

Thank you for the suggestion. I assume that is taken as tablets?

Vitamin b6 is good for mood swings. Sometimes I get annoyed when my family members playing games when going to the local coop etc. Hope this helps you.