Mood Disorders:
Signs And Symptoms To Note

It is “normal” for moods to change and fluctuate. Nothing remains constant and your mood is no exception. While you can expect your mood to change throughout the day, it may not be healthy for your mood to drastically and quickly change from one intense emotion or mood to another. It is estimated that approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the American population aged 18 and above experience disturbances in their mood that could indicate a mood disorder.

The Medical Context of “Mood”

For the layman, the term “mood” simply refers to your feelings at any given time, such as being happy or sad. In the clinical setting, it is used to describe a continuing emotional state that affects how an individual sees the world.

There are two primary types of mood disturbances that characterize most mood disorders: depression and mania. Most mood disorders belong to the broad categories of depressive disorders. You have also likely heard of bipolar disorders or Manic-Depressive Disorder as it was once referred to. The term “bipolar” refers to mood fluctuations from depression to mania. People with bipolar disorder undergo shifts in mood consisting of depressive and manic episodes. Anyone, including children, can have a mood disorder.

Identifying the Causes of Mood Disorders

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact causes of mood disorders. A combination of environmental, genetic, biochemical, and psychological factors is thought to cause depression (unipolar) and bipolar depression. An imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain is also theorized to result in depression and bipolar disorder. Since these conditions tend to be hereditary, researchers are still trying to discover genes that contribute to their development.

Notable Emotional Symptoms of Mood Disorders

The emotional symptoms of mood disorders vary from person to person. Common signs that an individual is experiencing a depressive disorder include feelings of hopelessness or pessimism, lethargy, irritability, unyielding anxiety, persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness, and loss of interest in activities that used to be pleasurable. In severe cases, a person with mood disorder may contemplate or engage in self-harming or thoughts of suicide.

Individuals experiencing a manic episode are likely to experience euphoria and feelings of grandiosity. They may have prolonged periods of elation and are unusually enthusiastic and very irritable. They also tend to demonstrate risky behaviors or engage in excessive, pleasurable activities, such as splurging on a shopping binge, casual sex, substance abuse, gambling etc.

Physical Symptoms to Watch Out For

Like the emotional symptoms, the physical signs vary among people with mood disorders. Some telltale signs include fatigue or low energy, body pains, and loss of appetite. There may be a change in sleeping pattern, in which the individual either sleeps excessively or struggles with insomnia. A person with a mood disorder may have difficulty remembering details, lack concentration, and easily get distracted. Individuals with elevated moods may experience racing thoughts, talk rapidly, and feel heightened arousal.

The Debilitating Effects of Mood Disorders

Mood disorders can significantly interfere with your life in more ways than one. They can impair normal functioning in multiple settings, including home, work, and relationships.

In severe cases, psychotic features may be present, such as episodes of being disconnected with reality. Red flags of psychosis often include delusions such as believing outside forces are manipulating the mind or that others are trying to harm you when they are not. Psychotic symptoms can also include hallucinations, usually auditory, like voices distinct from the person’s own thoughts.

When symptoms are left untreated, they may become severe enough to require hospitalization in order to ensure safety of the person with the mood disorder and that of others. Mood disorders can be accompanied by a risk of death, injury, or trauma, usually arising from reckless and dangerous behavior.

Shifting Your Mood for a Better Life

Mood disorders are treatable, though diagnosis and treatment differ from one case to another. For example, an acute and brief episode of major depressive disorder may be resolved in a short period of time. Other types, however, may take months or years of ongoing treatment. It is important to be properly diagnosed by a competent behavioral health professional to find the treatment that is right for you.

You don’t have to live in isolation and suffer from a mood disorder. There is help available from Carolina Counseling Services – Southern Pines, NC. To make your first appointment, just call us and we will match you with an independently contracted counselor who has expertise and training in treating mood disorders. Early intervention can make it easier to address and gain control over your moods live a healthy, productive life once again, book an appointment now!

Related Articles: