Some people are friendly and happy when you catch them on one of their "good days." But watch out when things aren't going "their way.".....They might walk around in a "funk' and blame everyone around them for their unhappiness....How do you deal with moody or "hot and cold" people? Have you developed any "early warning signs" to spot people like this early-on?....I think it's important to take time to see all sides to a person before getting in "too deep." Don't you?....It's no fun to be around "hot and cold" people. There is no telling how they will act or react from moment to moment....Will they be friendly and happy to see or talk to us? Or will they be in a "funk" and mad at the world because things aren't going "their way?" Or will they be elusive and "closed-up tight" when they were "open" the last time we saw them???

We all have our moments......

Depends on how often it happens. Occassionally is no big deal, like shoes said, we all have our moments.

If it's more frequent, I tell them they need to take their unhappy azz to the doctor and have themselves checked for manic-depressive or bi-polar disorder.

I have no patience for the moody sort, especially those who want to take it out on everyone else instead of fixing their problems or themselves.

To be honest, when I detect this as a 'normal' pattern of behavior for them, I start weaning them out of my life. I expect behavior to be fairly consistent from day to day, and when they're shifting from being happy to sad or depressed or whatever their 'emotion du jour' is at a level frequent enough to be observable, that's the sign I don't want to be around 'em much longer than absolutely necessary to cut the cord with as little pain as possible. Life's too short to deal with that kinda crap. I'm sure they'll find someone who thinks their erratic mood swings are 'just charming', tho' ...

If I can't pull myself together I usally tell people "what's wrong" and let them know that my "weird mood" doesn't have anything to do with them...I don't like to keep people in the "dark"....worried that my "off mood" has something to do with them...I try to put things aside when I'm with others because I don't want to be a "downer." And sitting around all stressed out doesn't help anyway....Having fun...having some good conversation....getting back in "balance" usually helps me find solutions to my problems in the long run. How about you?

I think we all have our good day and bad days...Goodness we cant walk around like Mary flippin Poppins 24/7 365...well not unless we have some very gooood drugs

'Good' and 'bad' days are normal and understandable - they come with the territory called 'life' ... what's not acceptable is the constant switching from 'life is wonderful' to 'poor me'. That gets old REAL fast. Letting people know a bad day is happening is the responsible adult way of letting 'em know that YOU know things aren't 'normal', but will be once the current cause is removed. The ones who expect their 'hot 'n cold' behavior to just be accepted as 'that's just the way I am' are the ones to watch out for - and get away from.

I have to agree here i usually let people know when i am in a bad mood but i try not to take it out on any one. and i usually don't act like im having a bad day in front of other people.

That's the best point I've read...I just came out of a short term relationship with a person who was very hot and cold, problem is the good sides of her personality were so good that they had me feeling I could cope with the bad. If you notice inconsistency in your other half then be honest to yourself and save yourself future pain by ending it, detachment and not wanting to be around that person is a clear sign in any language, move on asap !!

Someone is playing around with a Bi-Polar Bear!

Kings Knight...Good post. You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned being consistent...How can we feel safe around people who are all over the map when it comes to their emotions and mood swings?

Some people don't seem to realize that they have to "own" and "process" their feelings and moods....We all have to take responsibilty for what we feel...and how our moods may effect the people around us...As a child my parents wouldn't let me waddle around in "down" or "lost" moods for long...They asked me what was wrong and encouraged me to "talk out" my feelings and look for solutions to my problems...if I played "poor me" and "pouted" they pointed out that I wasn't the only one in the house and told me to deal with my feelings so I wouldn't bring everyone "down." I don't think everyone had this kind of early training...And some people grow up with "hot and cold" parents and view all of it as normal...How do you feel about it? Thanks for the discussion and your posts and input.

As a man, I like to remind myself I have a decency I'm supposed to cherish because no one else is going to do it in my place. Whining and blaming others for our own states of mind clearly goes the opposite way, so... simply put, it's all about being decent and expecting others to be as decent, for their own good and ours.

In my opinion this one of the first milestones of being a man, but I guess it works whatever the testosterone level in one's body.

I heard that. I know I have mine. At least it isn't bad as it used to be. It used to be a roller coaster with the mood swings. The problem wasn't bad drugs as the drugs were excellent that I used to be on. I just keep telling myself that this too shall pass.

What she said ..... everyone has incidents that affect them at times

I stick my fingers in my ears, and sing louldy "La La La La La....I can't hear you!!"

idk... I kinda' take my friends how they come.
Moody people included.

I like people who can express their inner-self...
and to me it's at least equally important to know that
as the "outer-self".

I do draw the line at rudeness though.
Very little excuse for that.
Say what you want...
use the language that suits your mood
and let it fly.

I'll sit by and laugh or cry with ya'
or pitch a fit over the obstacles
in your life that seem to impede.

Just watch the rude and hateful stuff.

As to the guessing...
that kinda random stuff can
be entertaining.
A spice of life, no?

I find that peeing in their corn flakes shuts them up real fast.

I have a "Thou shalt not whine" sign in my classroom that I just hold up until they get it and sheepishly stop. Maybe I need a smaller version for my purse.