A mood disorder is a mental health condition that causes severe, persistent feelings or emotions that negatively impact a person's life. The two main types of mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder.
Depression, also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, causes overwhelming feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and loss of interest in activities. Other symptoms of depression include:
Bipolar disorder causes extreme shifts in mood from mania or hypomania (elevated mood) to depression. Symptoms of mania include increased energy, rapid speech, impulsive behavior, inflated self-confidence, and reduced need for sleep.
The exact cause of mood disorders is unknown, but researchers believe genetics, brain chemistry, hormones, and environmental stress play a role. Traumatic life events like deaths in the family, divorce, job loss, and medical illnesses can also trigger the onset of mood disorders.
Imbalances in brain chemicals like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine seem to underlie many mood disorders. That's why drugs that target these neurotransmitters, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can help regulate mood.
Hormonal changes related to menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, or thyroid disorders may also contribute to mood instability in some people.
If you are struggling with feelings of depression or mania that are interfering with work, relationships or daily activities, please seek professional help. With appropriate evaluation and treatment such as therapy, medication or both, many people with mood disorders can manage their symptoms and live full, happy lives.
My clinic, Balanced Hormones Center, offers cutting-edge hormone therapy to help regulate imbalances contributing to mood issues. Contact us today for a free consultation to see if we can help get you back on track.