A mood disorder is a condition where someone experiences persistent feelings of sadness or elation that are much more severe or longer-lasting than normal "highs and lows." These disorders can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life.
There are several major types of mood disorders:
Major depressive disorder
This involves feeling depressed, empty, hopeless, irritable, or angry most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks. Symptoms may include fatigue, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, thoughts of worthlessness or suicide, and more.
Persistent depressive disorder
This involves a depressed mood lasting for at least 2 years, along with other symptoms like low self-esteem, pessimism, and loss of interest that do not meet the full criteria for major depression.
Bipolar disorder
This causes dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels between emotional "highs" (mania/hypomania) and "lows" (depression). The manic phase may involve increased energy, euphoria or irritability, racing thoughts, impulsive behavior, and other extreme changes.
Cyclothymic disorder
This involves fluctuating mood disturbances between hypomania and mild depression that fall short of bipolar or major depressive disorder criteria in severity or duration.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
This features depressive episodes that follow a seasonal pattern, typically recurring in cold winter months with less sunlight when serotonin levels may drop.
What causes mood disorders? It's often a complex mix of brain chemistry, hormones like those offered at Renewal Hormone Center, genetics, stressful events, medical conditions, and substance abuse that interact to contribute to mood imbalance. Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine play a key role.
If you think you may suffer from a mood disorder, the compassionate medical team at Renewal Hormone Center can help diagnose the root cause and craft a personalized treatment plan to help you reclaim balance, energy, and joy. Contact us today to take control of your mental health!