Hyderabad Blues: [HM:258365] 7 Smart Strategies for Dealing With Moody People

7 Smart Strategies for Dealing With Moody People

Some of us seem to have pretty constant moods, while others' moods are much more turbulent. Dealing with moody people can become tiresome in the long-term.

Some moody people are just struggling with life, while others use moodiness as a tool to manipulate the people around them.

It's helpful to know the difference.

Regardless of the source of the moodiness, these tips can help:

1. Try to be understanding. Some people are simply going through a difficult time. Teenagers are prone to all sorts of hormonal issues that make managing their emotions challenging. Sometimes people are depressed, sick, tired, or chronically upset about something in their lives. It's important to attempt to be understanding during these times.

However, some people are simply bullies and use their moodiness to get what they want from others. Read on for strategies for dealing with this type of moodiness.

2. Take a break. If you're forced to live or work with a moody person, give yourself a break at regular intervals. Go do something fun and get away for a bit. Find a non-moody person to talk to for 15 minutes. Dealing with moody people can be exhausting.

3. Stay calm. There's no reason to get upset. Nine times out of ten, you've probably done nothing wrong. Others are generally moody for reasons that have nothing to do with you directly. You don't have to solve the moodiness or allow it to make you feel bad.

4. It might be best to consider removing the person from your life. If you're dealing with someone that always seems to dictate the mood around them, they are controlling. If your patience, concern, and advice don't seem to have any effect, and they are making you miserable, consider removing them from your life.

Any relationship should consist of both people giving and taking. If you're always giving and they're always taking, why are still spending time with them?

5. Avoid falling into the trap. Moody people stay moody because it helps them to get what they want. Others allow them to have their way in order to keep the peace. But giving in on a short-term basis only increases your challenge in the long term. If you reward them, they're much less likely to change.

6. Learn to ignore the negative mood. Pretend the other person isn't moody at all. Just go about your day as if nothing were wrong. We can't control others, but we can control our reactions to them. With practice, it becomes easier than you think.

7. Address the behavior. Sometimes you can put an end to moodiness by letting them know that you're onto their game. This can be as simple as asking, "I've noticed you're irritable a lot. Why is that?" The last thing a moody person wants is for their moodiness to become a topic in itself. They want to use it as a tool.

Be sensitive to those that are moody due to dealing with a significant challenge in life. Some people simply need sympathy and understanding. Those that use moodiness as a means to manipulate are a different story.

Avoid rewarding these bullies by having some personal boundaries. Don't let their moods affect the choices you make. Learn to act as if there were no moodiness at all. Letting these folks have their way is a huge mistake. You're only encouraging the behavior to continue in the future.