How to Deal with a Moody Person

How to Deal with a Moody Person

There are many reasons why a person has violent mood swings. They may not feel well at the particular moment, or they may be experiencing some sort of dilemma that occupies most of their thoughts. Some people are just moody by nature. They have regular ups and downs as a part of their daily routine. Dealing with this type of person is never easy. The following bits of advice will help you in these situations:

1. Know their basic temperament. There are two types of grumpy people. The first is one who has an occasional bad day. They may have lost an important business deal or had a misunderstanding with their colleagues, whatever it is, there was a reason for their foul mood.

There's also the kind that goes through the emotional roller coaster regularly. This is the type of person who just brings you down with them because they always look at the glass as half-empty. People like this are usually extremely sensitive, and any little thing gets them on a roll towards self destruction. If faced with that kind of person, never feed their fire. Step back and avoid circumstances that can set them off.

2. Learn to read people. While some may readily share their emotions, there are others who withdraw and displace their inner feelings by having inappropriate reactions to small incidents. People like these will rant and rave about the most trivial of matters when what they are trying to do is mask their vulnerability.

The best way to deal with people who do this is to find out the underlying causes of their anger. Ask them how they are and offer to listen to them when they are calm enough to talk. Never force them to open up and talk about it, otherwise they'll retreat further into their shell. If they really refuse to talk, simply take a step back and let them know that they can approach you when they are ready. When we have problems, we always need to talk about the issues when the time is right.

The same goes for people who withdraw. If you complain about them a lot, chances are they will never look to you for comfort. Give them time to cool off, and while they do, never talk about them to the others who are not concerned. Be respectful of their personal privacy.

3. Put things in perspective. It's important to know that you are not responsible for someone else's mood. The crucial thing is to become the objective person. Step back and observe the things that trigger their anger. If they are grouchy towards you even when you haven't done anything, stand your ground and let them know that you will not tolerate that kind of treatment.

Deciding when enough is enough is entirely up to you. When you deal with a moody person, you have to be brave enough to also say stop. At the same time, you have to know that you need not sink to their level. If they cuss a lot and slam things when they are upset, don't do the same. Be the type of person who is easy to get along with.

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