How to Deal with a Moody Person

Everybody gets mood swings for a variety of reasons. Some of them may not feel well at the particular moment, or may be experiencing some sort of dilemma that just occupies most of their mind. Some people, on the other hand, are just moody by nature. They have regular ups and downs that seem to be a part of their daily routine. Dealing with this sort of person is never easy, but rather than going with your instincts to just slap them silly, it is best that you follow the following bits of advice:

1. Know their basic temperament. There are two types of grumpy people. The first type 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. Of course, there’s also the kind that goes through the emotional rollercoaster regularly. The latter is the kind of person who just brings you down with them because they like to 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. Should you be faced with that kind of person, you should never feed their fire. Step back and avoid circumstances that can tick them off.

2. Learn how to read people. While some may readily share their emotions, there are others who are prone to withdrawing and displacing 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, then 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.

3. Put things in perspective. It's important to know that you are always not responsible for someone else’s mood. The important thing here is to become the objective person. Take a step back and observe the things that trigger their anger. When they are grouchy towards you even when you haven’t done anything, you also need to stand your ground and let them know that you will not tolerate this 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, why should you do the same? At least you know that people will prefer your company over theirs because you are the type of person who is easy to get along with.