Mood disorders are comprised of different types of mental illnesses that impact a person’s moods and emotions. Mood disorders can cause a person’s feelings to increase or decrease or even mask them completely. The moods range from levels of extreme happiness to valleys of depression and sorrow. Someone with a mood disorder often feels they have zero ability to control their emotions. For this reason, they may not seek mood disorder treatment.
Types of Mood Disorders
Several types of mood disorders exist, making it important for each person to receive a thorough assessment from a trained clinician. Each mood disorder has its own way of presenting and responding to different types of treatment.
Major Depressive Disorder: Commonly called depression, this mood disorder causes a person to feel depressed, sad, and hopeless. They are unable to shake these feelings. It may have its origins in an event, such as the death of a loved one, or it may develop for unspecified reasons.
Dysthymia: Similar to depression, this type of mood disorder is also called persistent depressive disorder. The difference is that dysthymia may include experiencing an absence of symptoms for several weeks before they resurface.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD occurs during certain times of the year. It most commonly happens when fall and winter weather begins. It subsides when the weather warms up and the days contain more sunlight hours. It can also occur during other seasons of the year.
Bipolar Disorder: Formerly known mainly as manic depression, bipolar disorder causes a person to experience severe mood changes. This category includes bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder. Symptoms can range from ping-ponging between extreme highs and lows or mostly feeling sad and depressed.
Postpartum Depression: This mood disorder occurs after a woman gives birth. She feels sad and depressed and is unable to pull herself out of these low moods. While some women feel this way for a brief time after having a baby, postpartum depression symptoms last for two weeks or longer.
Substance-Induced Disorders: This mood disorder has its origins in substance abuse. It can happen as a withdrawal symptom when a person becomes sober. Alternatively, it can happen as a result of long-term abuse of drugs or alcohol.
Signs & Symptoms of Mood Disorders
Mood disorders can cause a variety of signs that people can look for. Most symptoms last for at least two weeks and can actually last for years. Common signs and symptoms of mood disorders include:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Feelings of depression and sorrow
- Hopelessness
- Elevated amounts of joy that seem manic
- Feeling guilty
- Mood swings, ranging from high levels of joy to extreme depression
- Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
- Feelings of anger or aggressiveness
Physical and behavioral signs can include weight gain or loss and changes in appetite. The person may also develop sleep difficulties, feel lethargic, and experience unexplained symptoms like nausea, headaches, and body aches. They may turn to alcohol or drug use to help alleviate these symptoms.