Moods, Mood Swings, and Emotions
It’s likely noncontroversial to declare that in electronic dance music (EDM), Dutch DJ, musician and record producer Armin van Buuren is one of the quintessential trance music artists. Now, I invite you to consider his second compilation album, A State of Trance 2005 (2005).
The anthology contained the track “Mood Swing” by EDM artist John Askew. For context, the American Psychological Association (APA) thusly defines mood:
1. any short-lived emotional state, usually of low intensity (e.g., a cheerful mood, an irritable mood).
2. a disposition to respond emotionally in a particular way that may last for hours, days, or even weeks, perhaps at a low level and without the person knowing what prompted the state. Moods differ from emotions in lacking an object; for example, the emotion of anger can be aroused by an insult, but an angry mood may arise when one does not know what one is angry about or what elicited the anger. Disturbances in mood are characteristic of mood disorders.
3. in linguistics, a category of a verb used to identify a clause or sentence as being a statement, question, command, expression of wish, and so on.
Regarding APA definitions one and two, a mood differs from an emotion, which the APA defines as “a complex reaction pattern, involving experiential, behavioral, and physiological elements, by which an individual attempts to deal with a personally significant matter or event.”
Whereas an emotion typically has a known origin (e.g., I’m angered by my beliefs about people who dislike trance music), a mood generally regards an unknown origin (e.g., I woke up in an irritable mood, and I don’t know why). Admittedly, this is a somewhat subtle distinction.
Now, the APA defines a mood swing as “a nonspecific term for any oscillation in mood, particularly between feelings of happiness and sadness.” As an example, if trance music suddenly switches to polka music, one may experience an unanticipated mood swing.
Regarding my practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), as it regards the ABC model, I maintain that moods, mood swings, and emotions may relate to matters of unknown origin, as in the nonconscious mind, or of known origin, as in the conscious mind.
When a mood or emotive experience concerns an unknown origin, I invite people to use Rational Emotive Imagery (REI) in order to explore the matter. Individuals are encouraged to intensely imagine the experience and then deconstruct what belief may’ve caused the consequence.
Now, I invite you to do the same. If you know why your unpleasant emotional experience occurred, then you can change it through use of the ABC model. Also, if you don’t know why your unwelcome mood occurred, then you can still use the ABC model and REI to alter it.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Arousal. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/arousal
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Emotion. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/emotion
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Irritability. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/irritability
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Linguistics. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/linguistics
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Mood. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/mood
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2023, November 15). Mood disorder. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/mood-disorder
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Mood swing. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/mood-swing
Apple Music. (n.d.). John Askew. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/john-askew/79344983
Atilla Ambrus. (2014, April 1). John Askew - Mood Swing (Original Mix) [Image; video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/2v2HjqqEPM4?si=nVXWBZDrakh__8Eg
Hollings, D. (2026, February 8). Adaptive and maladaptive emotions and behavior. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/adaptive-and-maladaptive-emotions-and-behavior
Hollings, D. (2026, September 28). Change agent. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/change-agent
Hollings, D. (2026, February 12). Consciousness: Reach your soul. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consciousness-reach-your-soul
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Hollings, D. (2026, September 4). Gratitude: A sense of thankfulness and happiness, as one remains grateful. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/gratitude-a-sense-of-thankfulness-and-happiness-as-one-remains-grateful
Hollings, D. (2026, September 16). Healthfully negative vs. unhealthfully negative reactions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/healthfully-negative-vs-unhealthfully-negative-reactions
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Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Lived experience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/lived-experience
Hollings, D. (2026, July 9). Nonconscious: Just because you can’t detect the belief doesn’t mean that it isn’t present. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/nonconscious-just-because-you-can-t-detect-the-belief-doesn-t-mean-that-it-isn-t-present
Hollings, D. (2026, September 18). On feelings… again. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings-again
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Hollings, D. (2026, August 22). Rage, rage disorder, and road rage: Negative, but unhealthy anger and aggression. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rage-rage-disorder-and-road-rage-negative-but-unhealthy-anger-and-aggression
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
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Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2025, April 15). This cake smells unpleasant. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/this-cake-smells-unpleasant
Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal
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Wikipedia. (n.d.). A State of Trance 2005. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_State_of_Trance_2005
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Armin van Buuren. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armin_van_Buuren
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Polka. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polka
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Trance music. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trance_music
