Mood Disorders

Mood disorders like depression (major depressive disorder) and bipolar disorder can fill you with despair and make life seem pointless. If you feel like this, talk to the compassionate professionals at LinqCare Inc. They offer secure telehealth consultations where you can benefit from talk therapy and medication management without leaving home. To learn more about feeling better with telehealth, call LinqCare Inc. or book an appointment online today.    

What are mood disorders?

Mood disorders are mental health conditions that alter how you feel and think. They trigger negative emotions that can overwhelm you, making it difficult to function in daily life. Examples of mood disorders include:

Major depressive disorder (MDD)

Major depressive disorder causes despair, sadness, and hopelessness that persists for months. Without treatment, it can make life so unbearable that people sometimes consider suicide the only escape.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder, is a form of depression that lasts for years.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

SAD is depression that develops when you don’t get enough daylight. In the United States, it primarily affects people in the winter months when the days are short.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

PMDD triggers severe mood swings every month when a woman’s hormone levels change during her menstrual cycle.

Bipolar disorder

People with bipolar disorder endure depressive episodes that can last for many months. Between bouts of depression, they experience manic episodes when they feel full of energy, overconfident, and reckless.

Cyclothymic disorder

Cyclothymia is bipolar disorder where the mood changes are less extreme.

What symptoms might mood disorders cause?

The link between all mood disorders is depression. In addition to feeling unendingly worthless and sad, you might weep frequently, develop insomnia (an inability to sleep) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much), and struggle to think clearly.

Some people overeat when they have depression, while others lose their appetite. You may get irritated quickly and have little tolerance for others. You might withdraw into yourself and become isolated. Some people develop substance use disorders by turning to alcohol and drugs to numb their pain.

Other mood disorder symptoms differ according to which condition you have. For example, with bipolar disorder, you experience almost the opposite of depression during the manic phase.

How are mood disorders treated?

Although they have their own characteristics, treating mood disorders involves the same approaches.

Talk therapy and medication are the primary mood disorder treatments. Talking with one of LinqCare Inc.’s compassionate therapists helps you understand why you’re experiencing negative feelings. Your therapist also supports you through facing problems from your past and learning ways to manage your current challenges.

Antidepressant medication helps your mood by adjusting the balance of chemicals called neurotransmitters in your brain. People with mood disorders often lack certain neurotransmitters, reducing their brain’s ability to regulate their mood.

Contact the LinqCare Inc. team for expert diagnosis and treatment if you have mood disorder symptoms. Call the office or book a telehealth appointment online today.