The Most Common Mood Disorders and How They’re Managed
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Mood disorders are often defined as severe disruptions in a person’s emotions. Some are more well-known than others, but almost all of them alter your emotional state in a way that can have a negative impact on your mental health.
Understanding the different types of mood disorders and how they affect your mind and body can make a big difference in how well you can handle them. The first step in treating a mood disorder is understanding what it is, why you might be dealing with it, and how to manage your symptoms.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most common types of mood disorders, and how you can fight back against the symptoms.
Major Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. Symptoms can vary, and some people experience it more severely than others. However, some of the common symptoms include extreme sadness, a sense of hopelessness, fatigue, and loss of interest in things you typically enjoy.
If there’s anything good to consider about depression, it’s that symptom management is very possible, and through mediums like therapy and medication, you can work to overcome the cause of your sadness and live a normal, satisfying life.
Bipolar Disorder
Most people have a basic idea of what bipolar disorder is. However, not as many know what it really looks or feels like. Without that knowledge, it can be a scary thing to go through.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of mania and periods of extreme depression. When you’re in a manic episode, your mood will be high. You’ll be energetic and likely feel the need to get more things done. As a result, you might not get as much sleep.
During a depressive episode, the opposite occurs. You might be tempted to sleep all of the time, and life can start to feel hopeless.
There is help, as bipolar disorder is typically managed through lifestyle changes, medication, and therapy.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) impacts people who tend to experience sadness during a specific season — typically winter. Someone with SAD is likely to feel very down during the colder, darker winter months than in the spring and summer.
SAD can make you feel tired and lethargic. You might want to isolate yourself from people you love and activities you enjoy.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to manage seasonal affective disorder, including spending time outside, using light therapy, or working with a mental health professional to work on healthy self-care strategies.
Intermittent Explosive Behavior (IED)
IED might be less widely known than mood disorders like depression or SAD, but it’s one of the most intense and frightening disorders you can deal with, characterized by extreme outbursts of anger that can turn aggressive and violent.
Perhaps the worst part about IED is that the outbursts can be impulsive and unpredictable. This disorder can have a negative impact on your relationships, career, and more.
There are strategies to manage IED through talk therapy and medication.
What Can You Do?
If you’re concerned that you’re dealing with any of these mood disorders, the best thing you can do is to reach out for help. You don’t have to live with any of these disorders without hope for the future. They don’t define who you are, and they don’t have to dictate what your life looks like.
If you want to learn more about any of these disorders, feel free to contact me for information. If you or someone you know is dealing with any of the common symptoms covered here, set up an appointment soon. Together, we’ll get to the bottom of whatever mood disorder you might be struggling with. You can learn how to fight back against your symptoms and take control of your life again.