A mood disorder is an emotional problem that significantly affects a person’s life. It may be bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety. Mood disorders can cause great distress and affect people in different ways.
A mood disorder is not due to a medical condition. It may be triggered by an event such as the death of a loved one or serious illness, but it can also happen without any obvious reason.
The treatment for mood disorders is often a combination of medication, talk therapy, and lifestyle changes. Mood disorder treatments can help people to feel better quickly and also reduce the risk of relapse.
Mood disorders are complex and can be difficult to understand how you are feeling on a daily basis. Mood disorder treatment centers are designed to help people learn about their moods and come up with ways of coping with them.
PROMIS offer therapies to help with your specific needs including counselling, psychotherapy, aromatherapy, and acupuncture to improve well-being
Types of Mood Disorders
There are many types of mood disorders, some of which there is no cure for. They can be categorized as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and dysthymia. Major depression in the UK affects an estimated 3.5 million people each year.
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 1 percent of individuals over the age of 18 in any given year and dysthymia is when one suffers from chronic depression with no periods of remission.
The treatment for mood disorders is varied and depends on the individual, their severity, duration of illness, co-morbid conditions, and lifestyle.
Some treatments include medication, therapy, exercise, and diet changes. The goal is to reach a balance between the mood swings with medications that are not too sedating. It is characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest, and it can lead to thoughts about suicide.
Mood disorders are generally treated with psychotherapy, medications, or both.
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe, prolonged state of sadness that has an effect on the entire body. It can lead to many other symptoms such as insomnia or hypersomnia, change of appetite, psychomotor agitation or retardation, loss of energy and libido. The symptoms must be present for a minimum of two weeks in order to diagnose the patient with MDD.
A person with MDD may also experience a decline in their ability to do work or school, which can lead to social isolation. In severe cases, individuals may contemplate suicide and have thoughts of death or suicide.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of mood disorder that occurs in the winter months. The symptoms include people feeling down, hopeless, and irritable; often sleeping more and eating less. These symptoms can be treated with light therapy, psychotherapy, and medication.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
A persistent depressive disorder is a medical diagnosis of depression that has been present for more than two years. Persistent depressive disorders are often undiagnosed because they can look like other mental illnesses or even chronic medical conditions. Persistent depressive disorders are also called dysthymia, which is a low-grade depression that has been present for at least two years. Persistent depressive disorders are the most common type of mood disorder.
Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment disorder is a condition that occurs when an individual has trouble adapting to new situations, changes in their environment, or the loss of something important. It can sometimes be related to mood disorders.
Anxiety
One of the most common types of mood disorders is anxiety. Anxiety can be caused by a number of different things including genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors. There are many ways to help with anxiety, including medication and therapy.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can result from the experience of a traumatic event. PTSD symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe emotional distress.
The Mood Disorders Treatment Centre at PROMIS offers PTSD treatment services for those who have had traumatic experiences as well as offers individual counselling for trauma survivors. A clinical social worker will work with you to identify resources in your community, recognize warning signs for suicide and other behaviours that are related to trauma.
Borderline Personality
A borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that causes an individual to have trouble regulating emotions. Symptoms of the disorder include unstable moods, impulsiveness, and frequent changes in relationships.
Individuals with borderline personality disorder may also experience chronic feelings of emptiness, boredom, and loneliness.
Borderline personality disorder is hard to diagnose because it can be difficult for individuals with the condition to accurately self-report their symptoms.
Borderline personality disorder is often treated with psychotherapy, which focuses on teaching skills to regulate emotions and cope with life’s challenges.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood. These swings may be dramatic and rapid, with periods of intense highs (mania) alternating with equally low periods (depression).
The disorder is usually initially recognized following a major manic episode. The individual can feel euphoric, have an inflated sense of self-importance, and experience racing thoughts that are difficult to control.
Depressive episodes are also experienced by most people with bipolar disorder. These periods can include feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and thoughts of suicide.
Causes of Mood Disorders
The causes of mood disorders are not well understood. However, the illness is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors that can trigger or worsen it.
This disorder is usually first identified following a manic episode. The individual can feel euphoric, have an inflated sense of self-importance, and experience racing thoughts that are difficult to control. Depressive episodes also typically follow a manic episode.
Treatment of mood disorders usually includes medication and psychotherapy, or talk therapy. Treatment can be complicated by possible side effects from the medication, drug or alcohol abuse, and other health problems.
Mood Disorder Treatment
Mood disorders are illnesses that can be triggered or worsened by environmental factors. These disorders are usually first identified following a manic episode in which the individual feels euphoric, has an inflated sense of their worth, and believes they can do anything.
Mood disorders affect people in different ways. For some people, the symptoms are mild to moderate while for others these symptoms can be devastating or life-threatening.
Treatment for mood disorders can include medications, talk therapy, and other types of therapies such as art or music. Treatment is complicated by possible side effects from the medication, drug or alcohol abuse, co-morbid disorders, suicidal ideation, and resistance to treatment.
It is important for people with mood disorders to follow their doctor’s orders about taking medication as prescribed, without skipping doses or stopping medication use.
Mood disorders are a serious medical condition and should be quickly diagnosed and treated by a health care provider with experience in mood disorder treatment.
Inpatient Programs
Inpatient programs are often preferable to outpatient or day treatment because they provide a safe and therapeutic environment for the person with mental illness.
The inpatient setting is one of safety, stability, and security. Inpatient programs offer 24-hour, around-the-clock treatment for those who are not able to function well enough outside of the facility because they have been diagnosed with a mental illness.
Inpatient programs offer a variety of treatment options, including individual and group therapy, medication management, family counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and diagnosis. They also have the resources to provide diagnostic testing for other co-existing conditions.
The inpatient setting is not the only option for those with mental illness, but it is one of many options that are available to help people get their lives back on track.
Help is the Greatest Form of Courage
It is often said that the best form of courage is to help someone else. The trained professionals at PROMIS’ mood disorders treatment centre strive to provide a safe and effective way for those with mood disorders to get the help they need.
The mood disorders treatment centre at PROMIS is a recommended treatment facility that provides a safe and effective way for those with mood disorders to gain the emotional support needed for recovery.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Mood Disorders?
There are many signs and symptoms that can be a sign of mood disorders. One example is anxiety, which is often associated with depression as well. Other common signs include difficulty concentrating, fatigue or feeling apathetic, and even thoughts of suicide.
Manic Symptoms
A manic episode is an abnormally and persistently elevated mood, lasting at least one week. This can be accompanied by other symptoms such as inflated self-esteem or grandiosity; decreased need for sleep; increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, and mental activity.
The manic episode can be a part of bipolar disorder or it may occur as a result of substance use or medication for another medical condition. The symptoms are:
-Excessive happiness or irritability
-Extreme self-confidence
The manic episode usually occurs in cycles. A depressive episode is the consequence of a person experiencing an abnormally and persistently depressed mood that lasts for at least two weeks.
-Unhappiness or hopelessness
-Extreme fatigue, lack of energy and motivation
Depressive Symptoms
A depressive episode is the most common mood disorder. A person with a depressive episode will have five or more of these symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks:
-Feeling sad
-Feeling hopeless
-Losing interest in activities that were once pleasurable
-Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep (insomnia)
-Tiredness and lack of energy
-Feeling worthless
-Difficulties concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things
-Increased thoughts of death and suicide
