Many people are not always aware of their emotions, how it affects them, or how to improve them. The ongoing mental health campaign has made it easier for people to embrace and learn more about their mental state. Mood disorder is one of the many mental health issues you should be aware of, so today, we will help you understand the condition.
What Is a Mood Disorder?
A mood disorder is a mental health issue that affects your emotional state. The condition makes you abruptly shift emotions from being sad to being extremely happy in a matter of minutes. It is quite common for everyone to have their feelings shift when a situation affects us. Our moods can easily change to being happy, sad, or angry. However, if your mood abruptly changes and you go from happy to low for long periods, you need to check your mental state.
What Are the Different Types of Mood Disorders?
Mood disorders are caused by major events in a person’s life like loss, abuse, childhood trauma. In other cases, it is caused by an imbalance of the brain’s chemical cells. Some of these mood disorders include:
- Extreme Depression- Feeling of sadness and hopelessness for more than 2weeks
- Bipolar- A person alternates their moods from depression to mania (extreme feeling of happiness)
- Dysthymia- A long term form of depression
- Medication or substance abuse mood disorder- A person experiences this type of depression after a substance or medication withdrawal
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder- mood disorder that occurs before menstruation and goes away after onset of menses
- Mood disorder related to medical illness- health conditions like long-term injuries, cancer, etc. can cause depression
8 Signs You Are Struggling with A Mood Disorder?
It may not be easy to recognize that you have a mood disorder at first, but if the symptoms persist for several weeks, you should seek medical help. A mood disorder can have an impact on your social behavior and, in extreme cases, your health. So, how do you know if you’re suffering from a mood disorder? When is the best time for you to schedule a meeting? Here are some of the warning signs to look out for:
- Extreme anxiety and sadness
- Having low esteem
- Feeling hopeless and always negative minded
- Suicidal thoughts and self-harm thoughts
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Increased or reduced appetite or weight
- Reduced concentration and inability to make decisions
- Physical symptoms that don’t improve even after treatment like headaches, stomach aches, and tiredness.
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5 Ways to Improve Your Mood Disorder?
People experience mood disorders in a variety of ways. Everyone has a unique case, and mood disorders in adults, teenagers, and children are extremely diverse. Here are some steps you can take with your child or on your own to improve your mood disorder:
- Seek psychotherapy and family therapy to change how you view yourself and your environment.
- Seek electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial stimulation to treat extreme cases of depression.
- Take anti-depressant drugs and mood-stabilizing medicine.
- Engaging in activities that stimulate your brain and change your moods like meditation, yoga, and exercising
- Understand your mood triggers by journaling or documenting your mood change
Finally, if you suspect you are suffering from a mood disorder, you should seek professional assistance of licensed therapist;
Online Therapy is a great and cost effective way start addressing mental health needs. Early treatment will improve your overall health and wellness.
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