Mood Disorders

Mood disorders result in your emotions being out of control. Swings from emotional highs to deep and depressive lows make it challenging to keep your mental health balanced. For help with mood disorders, contact the mental health experts at STAT Counseling & Consulting, LLC. Call the Helotes, Texas, office today to schedule your remote telehealth appointment, or book online now.

How is mood defined?

Your mood can be difficult to define, but it impacts every aspect of your life. Your mood affects your perceptions, emotions, and behavior. Mood disorders can disrupt these elements, causing distress.

What are mood disorders?

Some people experience disorders that cause their moods to be significantly disrupted. These are known as mood disorders. Common mood disorders experienced by adults in the United States include:

• Bipolar disorder
• Cyclothymia
• Hypomania
• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

If you have a mood disorder, your mood can become unusually depressed or low. Or, your mood can be high, a state known as mania or hypomania. Either way, your mood is likely to swing between extremes, often unpredictably.

What causes mood disorders?

The causes of mood disorders include multiple factors. Studies show that an enlarged amygdala in your brain may be related to issues with mood. Issues with the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine can lead to mood disorders.

Mood disorders also have associated genetic and lifestyle factors. Bipolar disorder may run in your family. Or, you may develop a mood disorder after certain types of trauma, illness, or drug use.

How are mood disorders treated?

People with mood disorders often feel out of control when it comes to rapid changes in mood. However, mood swings related to mood disorders can be extremely disruptive to personal happiness, social connectedness, and professional success.

Treatments for mood disorders include medication management, psychotherapy, and other types of brain retraining.

You may also benefit from coping techniques to help you manage extremes of high or low mood, such as grounding or stress management skills.

Can mood disorders be cured?

Mood disorders like bipolar disorder can’t be cured. However, symptoms can be controlled with the right treatment approach. 

Because mood disorders come with cycling states of mood, ongoing treatment, and management are often needed for these types of conditions. A one-time improvement doesn’t mean that medication may not still be needed.

For support you can count on when it comes to managing a mood disorder, contact the team at STAT Counseling & Consulting, LLC of Helotes, Texas, today. Schedule your first appointment over the phone, or book now with the easy-to-use online tool.