Mood Disorders

What are mood disorders?

Mood disorders are mental health problems that change your feelings for the worse. Mood disorders the Neuropsychiatric Care Center treats include:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD)

People with MDD experience intense feelings of despair, shame, worthlessness, guilt, and misery that persist for many months.

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Women with PMDD suffer severe mood swings at the same time every month. The condition is linked to fluctuating hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. It’s a severe form of PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

• Dysthymia

Dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder) is depression that becomes a chronic problem lasting many years.

• Bipolar disorder

People with bipolar disorder switch between depression and mania, where they become overconfident, reckless, and hyperactive.

• Cyclothymic disorder

Cyclothymic disorder is a less severe form of bipolar disorder.

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

SAD develops in some people when they don’t get enough daylight. In the United States, people with SAD feel worse when the days are shorter during the winter.

What symptoms might mood disorders cause?

The common thread that connects mood disorders is depression. When you first develop depression, you might feel low and empty, unable to enjoy the activities you used to love, and find it hard to sleep or focus. As time passes, negative feelings take over, and you’re powerless to stop them.

Depression can be so distressing that people sometimes turn to alcohol or drugs, hoping to numb their pain. They retreat into a world where everything is dark, bleak, and hopeless; the burden of depression can drive people to suicide.

With some mood disorders, you might experience other feelings at times. For example, if you have bipolar disorder, manic episodes can cause excessive excitability, feelings of invincibility, and risk-taking behaviors.

How are mood disorders treated?

Mood disorder treatments are broadly similar, combining talk therapy and medication. However, the approaches vary depending on your symptoms.

Talking with the Neuropsychiatric Care Center’s skilled therapists helps you understand your feelings. They support you with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other proven techniques so that you can learn how to challenge your negative thoughts.

Medication restores balance in your brain chemistry. You might benefit from antidepressants and/or anti-anxiety drugs. If you have bipolar disorder, mood stabilizers can help. If your condition doesn’t improve, you might be a candidate for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Call the Neuropsychiatric Care Center or schedule a consultation online today to experience the benefits of expert mood disorder treatment.