Mood disorders are mental health conditions that distort your mood or emotional state and interfere with your personal and professional life. If you’re concerned that your moods are inconsistent or have feelings of depression or euphoria that are disrupting your life, contact the team at South Texas Mental Health Associates in Corpus Christi, Texas, for assessment and comprehensive treatment. Call or book an appointment online today.
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:
Mood disorders distort your emotions, so your symptoms are typically linked to the extreme feelings of depression or manic episodes.
Depressive symptoms include:
Euphoric symptoms include:
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:
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.