Mood disorders are a category of mental health issues that affect how a person regulates emotions. They involve extreme and intense feelings of sadness or elation that are out of proportion to the situation. These disorders affect mood and behavior.
There are several major types of mood disorders:
- Major depressive disorder: Characterized mainly by prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in life. Other symptoms may include changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, poor concentration, and sometimes thoughts of suicide.
- Bipolar disorder: Involves cycles of extreme highs (mania) and extreme lows (depression). The manic phase brings abnormal excitement, lack of focus, impulsive behavior, and sometimes delusional or psychotic symptoms.
- Dysthymia: Involves mild but persistent, long-term symptoms of depression. This type of chronic depression does not normally completely disable a person's ability to function, but can still have significant impacts over time.
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): A type of recurring depression that typically occurs during late fall and winter. It is thought to be related to decreasing daylight hours during those months impacting circadian rhythms and other factors.
What causes mood disorders? Research shows that these conditions often run in families, indicating a potential
genetic component. However, family history alone does not always lead to mood disorders, suggesting that
environmental factors are also at play. Some theories suggest
imbalances in brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine may contribute to mood disruptions.
Fortunately, mood disorders like depression and bipolar are treatable, especially when diagnosed early. Options may include
psychotherapy, medication like antidepressants or mood stabilizers, lifestyle changes and
alternative treatments. For example, Balance Clinic has had excellent patient outcomes using customized
bioidentical hormone therapies to help regulate imbalanced brain chemistry underlying mood disorders. Their comprehensive approach addresses root causes for long-term benefits.