What effect can a bad mood have on your perception of other emotions?

A bad mood can significantly distort your emotional perception, leading to confusion about the emotions and intentions of others. When you are feeling down or negative, your own emotional state often filters how you interpret external stimuli. This altered perspective can cause you to misinterpret neutral or positive interactions as negative and can amplify any negative stimuli you encounter. For example, someone who is in a bad mood might perceive a friend's neutral comment as sarcastic or dismissive. This misunderstanding is rooted in how strong emotions can cloud judgment and perception, leading to a skewed view of reality and the emotions of others.