What are mood disorders?
Mood disorder is the umbrella term for a range of mental health disorders that distort your moods and emotions to the point where they interfere with your ability to function normally. Mood disorders are classified as either unipolar or bipolar. Unipolar mood disorders only present distortions to one extreme, like depression. Bipolar disorders cause emotional swings from euphoric highs to depressive lows.
Some common mood disorders are:
- Depression
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Bipolar I and II
- Cyclothymic disorder
What are symptoms of mood disorders?
Mood disorders distort your emotions, so your symptoms are typically linked to the extreme feelings of depression or manic episodes.
Depressive symptoms include:
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Weight changes
- Changes to sleep habits — both oversleeping and insomnia
- Fatigue
- Indecisiveness
- Suicidal thoughts
Euphoric symptoms include:
- High energy
- Less need for sleep
- Exaggerated self-esteem
- Poor concentration
- Racing thoughts
- Impulsive behaviors
What causes mood disorders?
Like many mental health disorders, the specific causes of mood disorders haven’t been fully discovered. However, psychiatrists and medical researchers agree that brain chemistry and hormonal imbalances both contribute to the development of mood disorders.
Brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine help regulate your mood. When there is an imbalance or an issue that stops these neurotransmitters from effectively communicating, your mood is affected.
Your hormones regulate nearly every function of your body and contribute to your mood and energy levels. While a hormonal imbalance may not cause a mood disorder to develop, it can contribute to mood irregularities and exacerbate your symptoms.
Other risk factors for mood disorders include:
- Family history of mood disorders or mental health conditions
- Stressors like grief, trauma, or serious illness
- Personality traits like pessimism and low self-esteem
- Environmental factors like neglect and poverty
How are mood disorders treated?
Your team at South Texas Mental Health Associates addresses mood disorders with a customized treatment plan that may include medication, therapy, and lifestyle modifications. Medications like mood stabilizers and antidepressants can help return your emotions to a normal range so that you can focus your energy on addressing your issues one on one with a therapist and with group therapy sessions. Making lifestyle modifications to improve your diet and exercise habits can improve your overall well-being.
If you think you or a loved one are living with a mood disorder, call or schedule a consultation online today.
