Mood Disorders

Living with a mood disorder can be exceptionally challenging, even more so if you don’t have a supportive community to help you face it. Mood disorders, also known as emotional disorders, are largely invisible to those around us, and sharing them can result in disapproval, misunderstandings, and platitudes that aren’t helpful to those fighting them. With proper help and management, those suffering from emotional disorders can lead happy, productive lives.

Mood challenges can range from mild depression to severe bipolar disorders. Often, those who deal with mood challenges feel misunderstood. The mood can seem to take on a life of its own and keep you from doing things you enjoy or prompt you to do something that creates chaos and/or negative consequences. Our nonjudgmental approach helps you work on ways to use your strengths and successes to move through the moods like a wave rather than a hurricane.

Did You Know?

Mood disorders and anxiety commonly coexist and can exacerbate each other when they occur together. Those struggling with these disorders tend to have difficulty recovering from circumstances that damage their morale and faith in themselves. Anxiety creates a deep need for protection or reassurance in those who suffer from it, and when those needs go unmet, it is easier for them to spiral into a deep depression that becomes self-feeding. Three hundred fifty million people worldwide suffer from anxiety and depression.

Can Mood Disorders Be Cured?

There is no magic bullet cure for mood disorders, but they can be managed with some approaches. In most cases, treatment begins with an assessment that can include the prescription of antidepressants or psychotherapy. However, medication is not necessary in all cases, and lifestyle changes combined with family therapy (when appropriate) can go a long way to helping patients manage these conditions without medication.

What Causes Mood Disorders?

There are many theories on the underlying causes of mood disorders, but one sure thing is that every instance of a mood disorder has unique underlying causes. Certain commonalities exist that can include chemical imbalances and stress. Still, in many cases, mood disorders result from experiences that have had a lasting impact. Both of these can be true, with a medical cause being exacerbated by an experiential one; working with your therapist will help determine the origin of your case and the proper course of treatment for it.

What Are The Common Types Of Mood Disorders?

The term “mood disorder” or “emotional disorder” actually covers a range of conditions that include the well-known bipolar disorder and postpartum depression, as well as the prevalent “major depression.” There are milder cases of mood disorders as well, including one known as dysthymia, which describes a mild form of depression that doesn’t directly impact an individual’s daily life.

What Can Symptoms Identify A Mood Disorder?

Many of the most recognizable emotional symptoms include suicidal thoughts and a general sense of apathy towards activities that used to inspire you. In some cases, sufferers will experience a lingering sense of emptiness, anxiety, public sorrow, and a pervasive sense of pessimism. For those who suffer from bipolar disorder, they may also experience moments of restlessness, grandiosity, and impulsively hedonistic behavior. Physical symptoms can include excessive exhaustion or energy, a lack of interest in food, or periods of hypersexuality.

If you think you may be suffering from a mood disorder, you don’t have to live a life ruled by an emotional disorder; get in touch with your physician today for an assessment.