Mood Disorders

Mood disorders all feature varying degrees of depression that can sometimes be disabling. Visit Tioana Maxwell, PsyD, and the team at Bridging the Gap Psychological Services in Greater Houston area, Texas if you have problems with low mood. They offer comprehensive care to patients with bipolar disorder, dysthymia, and other mood disorders. If you live in the Greater Houston area and would like help with your mood disorder, call Bridging the Gap Psychological Services or book an appointment online today.

What mood disorders might affect me?

The most common mood disorders are:

Dysthymia

Dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder) is treatment-resistant depression lasting many years.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder patients experience high and low moods that cycle endlessly. Between bouts of depression, you experience manic episodes where you become energized, hyperactive, and full of confidence. You may need little sleep, behave out of character, take risks, spend money you can’t afford, and feel invincible.

Cyclothymic disorder

Cyclothymia is a less severe type of bipolar disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

SAD can develop if you don’t get enough daylight, so in the United States, it causes problems during the winter when the days are short and the sun isn’t out as much.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

PMDD causes severe mood swings each month at a particular stage of the menstrual cycle. Hormone imbalances are significant in PMDD development.

Apart from PMDD, which only affects people who have periods, anybody could contract one of these mood disorders.

What other conditions can affect mood?

Other mental health problems that often affect mood include:

Dissociative disorders

People with conditions like dissociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder have a disconnection between their memories, thoughts, surroundings, actions, and identity. They have uncontrollable, unhealthy coping mechanisms like unexplained memory loss and switching between different personalities.

Substance use disorders

If you have a drug or alcohol addiction, it can severely affect your moods. Depression and anxiety are also common in people with substance use disorder.

Childhood disorders

Disorders that develop in childhood include neurodevelopmental conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children may also suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychiatric disorders affecting their mood.

Geriatric disorders

Advanced age increases your risk of conditions like dementia and problems caused by strokes. Older people also suffer from depression, loneliness, and social isolation. 

What symptoms might mood disorders cause me?

Mood disorders typically cause depression, where negative feelings overwhelm you, and nothing you try improves your mood. You can’t enjoy activities you used to love, have difficulty sleeping properly, and may lose or gain weight because of appetite changes. Living with depression can trigger self-harm and suicide attempts.

Some mood disorders feature other kinds of symptoms. For example, bipolar disorder causes mania in between depression bouts. You might experience uncontrollable anger or severe anxiety. Symptom severity can vary too, from mild to so severe you can barely function.

If I have a mood disorder, what treatment do I need?

Mood disorder treatments include:

Psychotherapy

Bridging the Gap Psychological Services offers various talk therapies to help you overcome the issues affecting your mental health. The team also teaches you coping strategies so you can manage the daily challenges mood disorders cause and techniques like anger management if you have difficulty controlling your temper.

Medications

For those with moderate-to-severe mood disorder symptoms, medication might also be necessary. Antidepressants can often help by improving communication between your brain’s neurons (nerve cells). The team has trusted specialists in the area they can refer you to if you require medication.

The team at Bridging the Gap Psychological Services also uses mindfulness to help patients relax and manage stress.

Call Bridging the Gap Psychological Services to see if you need mood disorder treatments or book an evaluation online today.