Mood disorders are common mental health issues that negatively affect emotional stability. Individuals suffering from any type of mood disorder feel constantly sad and extremely low. Due to their mood swings, they face difficulties in different areas of life. By having mood disorders, you can experience multiple issues in handling your relationships and performing daily life functions. However, if you want to know more about what is a mood disorder in psychology and how mood disorders affect daily life, then take a look at this article. You will also get an idea of how mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder impact an individual’s daily functioning and how you can overcome them.
What is a Mood disorder?
Mood disorder is a type of mental health disorder that involves sudden, undesired, as well as unexpected changes in mood. Affected individuals experience persistent sadness and do not find happiness in anything. Moreover, they think that they do not have the capabilities to excel in their life. Any individual, including children, adolescents as well as adults, can suffer from mood disorders. The onset of mood disorder is also not restricted to any gender, as both females and males can suffer from the mood disorder. However, some individuals do not even know that they have the mood disorder. But fortunately, mood disorders are treatable.
What are the main types of Mood disorders?
There are different main types of mood disorders, but there are two major groups which include:
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar disorder
1. What are Depressive disorders?
Depressive disorders are one of the major types of mood disorders. Individuals suffering from depressive disorder remain depressed for a longer period. Moreover, they do not feel pleasure in any activity. Due to their sadness, they even start losing interest in once-enjoyable activities. In addition, their mind remains busy with depressive thoughts and face difficulty in paying attention to important life details. In addition, they also encounter multiple issues in the sleep-wake cycle and various other psychological issues.
Depressive disorders are further categorized into the following types:
Depression
Depression is common among all depressive disorders. There are different names for depression, such as clinical depression and major depression. The depressive state also involves consistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and reduced energy levels. Moreover, affected individuals do not have control over their emotions, thoughts, and perceptions. Due to their depressive thoughts, their behavior is also affected. The duration of depression varies in different individuals depending on their mental state. In some individuals, symptoms last for a few days, while for some, the duration of symptoms is weeks or more.
Persistent depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder is a type of mood disorder that stays for a longer period, such as months or years. However, the severity of symptoms can get lessened with time. During the entire period, multiple environmental factors affect the mental state and the extent of symptoms. The most common symptoms of persistent depressive disorder include a sense of sadness, emptiness, fatigue, or tiredness.
Seasonal affective disorder
As the name indicates, the onset of this depression is only linked with a season. You must have ever noticed that some people feel sad during the winter. At the same time, some people feel more energetic during the spring or summer. So, most of the depression symptoms appear during winter and disappear during spring or summer reasons.
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
This mental disorder is more common in children and adolescents. They exhibit major anger outbursts and emotional intensity. Moreover, they do not take an interest in participating in any activity and prefer to stay alone. If the symptoms are not treated in the early stages, then they persist until adulthood.
Psychotic depression
Psychotic depression is a severe type of depression. This involves the combined symptoms of both depression and psychosis. Individuals suffering from the psychotic condition feel a reduced connection with reality as they remain lost in their psychotic thoughts. Moreover, the most common symptoms of psychotic depression involve hallucinations, delusions as well as disorganized thinking patterns. More affected individuals also experience intrusive thoughts.
Prenatal and Postpartum depression
These two are the types of depression that are only restricted to females. If the depression occurs during the pregnancy, then it is called prenatal depression. However, if it occurs after childbirth, then it is referred to as postpartum depression.
Depression linked with substance abuse
There are some drugs or medications whose inappropriate intake or withdrawal can also induce the symptoms of depression; therefore, for the intake of each dose, experts’ recommendations are essential.
2. Bipolar disorders
Bipolar disorder is also a type of mood disorder. The term comprises two major concepts: Bi means two, while the word polar indicates the two different phases, which include manic and depressive episodes. Both manic and depressive episodes alternate with each other. At one time, individuals experience extreme energy levels, while on the other hand, they feel low energy levels. However, in some cases, symptoms occur together, which is called mixed episodes.
Types of Bipolar disorder
There are also some major types of bipolar disorder, which are as follows:
Bipolar disorder I
This type of bipolar disorder involves the occurrence of manic episodes that last for a few days or a week. Affected individuals experience elevated energy levels and, therefore, face difficulty in different areas of life. Moreover, some individuals also experience the onset of depressive episodes, but this phase is not considered for diagnosis.
Bipolar disorder II
Bipolar disorder II involves the symptoms of depressive episodes. Moreover, affected individuals also experience some symptoms of hypomanic episodes. Hypomania is different from manic episodes in terms of severity as it comprises the less severe symptoms.
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymic disorder is a less common type of bipolar disorder. This involves emotional fluctuations. Moreover, affected individuals also experience the symptoms of depression and hypomania.
What are the common symptoms of Depressive disorders?
The following are the common symptoms of mood disorders:
- Anxious thoughts
- Sense of tiredness or fatigue
- Emptiness
- Social isolation
- Reduced energy levels
- Lack of confidence
- Reduced self-esteem
- Sleeping issues
- Sense of worthlessness
- Eating disorders
- Undesired changes in appetite
- Difficulty in making decisions
- Irritable behavior
What are the common symptoms of Bipolar disorder?
Individuals dealing with bipolar disorder exhibit the following symptoms:
- Uncontrolled emotional highs
- Fluctuations in energy levels
- Disrupted sleep-wake patterns
- Racing thoughts
- Impulsive behaviour
Who can suffer from Mood disorders?
Any individual can experience the onset of the symptoms of a mood disorder, including children, adolescents as well as adults. However, children and teenagers are more prone to suffer from mood disorders. In addition, mood disorder mostly affects females as compared to males, as most of the symptoms of mood disorders remain undiagnosed.
How common are Mood disorders?
Mood disorders are common in both children and adults. However, adults are mostly suffered from depression and bipolar disorder. Moreover, different studies have reported that approximately 21% of adults living in the US can suffer from depression at any phase of their lives and face difficulty in performing different essential activities.
What are the main causes of Mood disorders?
The exact cause of mood disorders is still not known, as researchers are making efforts to find the actual cause. However, the following are the major different trigger factors that can cause the development of mood disorders:
Genetic factors
Genes responsible for the onset of the symptoms of mood disorders are transferred from parents to children. Different studies have reported the fact that mood disorders are genetic. If any of your parents are suffering from a mood disorder, then there are greater chances that you will also get affected by the mood disorder. Moreover, the presence of genetic factors among siblings is also responsible for the development of mood disorders.
Changes in Brain structure
Different brain scans have reported that the brains of individuals suffering from mood disorders are different from the brains of normal individuals. The amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex are the major brain regions that are involved in controlling emotions. However, this disorder makes some significant changes in these areas as these regions of the brain get enlarged due to mood disorders.
Hormonal imbalances
Different neurotransmitters are released by the brain and control different activities. Due to the onset of mood disorders, there is an imbalance in the level of serotonin, epinephrine as well as dopamine.
Environmental stress factors
Other than intrinsic factors, different environmental stress factors can contribute to the development of mood disorders. Childhood abuse, sexual abuse, loss of any loved one, financial loss, or any sudden injury or accident can trigger the symptoms of mood disorders.
How are Mood disorders diagnosed?
Mood disorders can only be diagnosed by skilled and professional mental health professionals. There is no blood test or any other physical test to determine the symptoms of mood disorders. Professionals perform psychological evaluations to diagnose mood disorders better. They not only analyze the symptoms but also determine the medical history and previous family history. Moreover, they also ask different questions of affected individuals to evaluate the symptoms of mood disorders better.
What are the treatment options for mood disorders?
There are different treatment approaches for mood disorders. Each treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms of mood disorders. If the symptoms are less severe, then experts recommend the psychotherapies. However, if symptoms are severe, then the intake of psychiatric medications is recommended. However, in some cases, the combined dosage of both medications and psychotherapies is recommended for better outcomes.
Psychiatric medications
The experts recommend different psychiatric medications to manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder, such as:
Antidepressants
As the name indicates, antidepressants work against the symptoms of depression. They do not provide a complete cure for depression, as they only lessen the symptoms of depression. Different antidepressants are recommended to treat the symptoms of both major depression and clinical depression, which are as follows:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
These antidepressants play a significant role in increasing the serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn leads to the reduction in symptoms of mood disorders.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
These types of antidepressants not only elevate the levels of serotonin but also the norepinephrine, which in turn controls mood intensity.
Atypical antidepressants
These types of antidepressants work differently from traditional antidepressants. Moreover, they also have multiple mechanisms of action.
Tricyclic antidepressants
These antidepressants prevent the uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain and improve mood.
Mood stabilizers
Mood stabilizers are used to stabilize the mood of individuals. They are mainly used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and improve the activity of this brain area, which controls emotional intensity. Moreover, some experts recommend their intake along with antidepressants depending on the mental condition of the individual. Some common mood stabilizers include lithium as well as anticonvulsant drugs.
Psychotherapies
Psychotherapies are considered one of the best therapies to treat mental health conditions such as mood disorders. They are also called talk therapy. There are different types of psychotherapies, but among them, the most common ones are as follows:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
This psychotherapy specifically targets the cognitive abnormalities as well as the behavioral issues linked with them. During the cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, mental health experts directly interact with the affected individuals and ask them to share their mental health issues or concerns. Affected individuals speak about their mental health and share their symptoms. Experts not only analyze their symptoms but also determine their trigger factors. After identifying them, they develop a plan to treat the mental issues such as mood disorders. They not only treat the disorder but also teach the individuals different strategies to cope with mood disorders. Individuals develop different skills to overcome their symptoms of mood disorders.
Interpersonal therapy
Another common type of psychotherapy that is used to treat mood disorders is interpersonal therapy. As mood disorders mainly revolve around interpersonal issues, therefore the main goal of this therapy is to teach the individual different skills and strategies to overcome interpersonal issues. Experts identify which factors are affecting the relationships of individuals and then guide them in different skills and strategies to improve their relationships with others.
Dialectical behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy is mostly used to treat emotional intensity or mood swings. This type of psychotherapy is also linked with cognitive behavioral therapy. Individuals learn to regulate their emotions and also the skill to make their minds free from stressful or anxious thoughts.
What are the other common treatments for Mood disorders?
Other than traditional therapies, there are also some other treatments which include:
Light therapy
Light therapy is also used to treat the symptoms of depression. However, specifically to treat seasonal affective disorder, light therapy is recommended by the experts. In this therapy, individuals are exposed to bright light, which, in turn, releases specific neurotransmitters in the brain.
Electroconvulsive therapy
This therapy involves the application of mild current to different brain regions. This results in the production of mild seizures, but therapy is safe and effective for the treatment of depression. Moreover, electroconvulsive therapy is specifically recommended for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression.
Vagus nerve stimulation
In this therapy, a device which is named the pacemaker is implanted in the chest cavity, which in turn stimulates the activity of the vagus nerve, which in turn controls the symptoms of depression. Moreover, this treatment is only recommended when other treatments do not provide the desired results.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation involves the application of magnetic waves to the brain to stimulate their activity. The magnetic waves are converted into electrical waves, which in turn result in brain stimulation. Moreover, this therapy is only recommended to reduce the severe forms of depression.
How can Mood disorders be prevented?
Multiple significant and productive strategies are used to prevent mood disorders, such as:
Lifestyle changes
By making some significant and productive changes in lifestyle, you can prevent the onset of the symptoms of mood disorders:
Healthy diet
If you take a complete diet that is enriched with all nutrients, then you can protect your mind from mood disorders. So, make sure to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid consuming fat-containing products.
Sleep patterns
Unhealthy sleep patterns can also cause the development of mood disorders. Therefore, make a routine to sleep and wake up early to make your mind relaxed and empty from all depressive thoughts.
Exercise
Different studies have linked regular workouts with a reduction in mood disorders. If you perform a physical workout or any strenuous activity, then you can experience the release of neurotransmitters in controlled amounts.
How can Brainpower Wellness help in the treatment of Mood disorders?
Brainpower Wellness Institute is committed to helping each individual grappling with common mental health illnesses such as mood disorders. You can also find the best treatment for other mental issues, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. Our experts are skilled in providing the finest treatment of mood disorders as they have retained knowledge of how mood disorders affect daily life. Moreover, they also guide individuals on how they can overcome their mood disorders and make their lives easy.
Frequently asked questions
Is anxiety a mood disorder?
No. Anxiety is not a mood disorder. However, in some cases, both conditions can occur together. Moreover, it is also classified among the anxiety disorders such as phobias as well as panic disorders.
Are mood disorders hard to live with?
Yes, Those individuals who are suffering from mood disorders have to face more difficulties in different aspects of their lives as compared to normal individuals.
How does bipolar disorder affect your daily life?
Bipolar disorder results in undesired and unusual shifts in mood. Moreover, an affected individual also feels the reduced energy levels that make their life difficult.
