Mood Disorders

At The Modalities Group in Bowie, Maryland, the expert team of mental health professionals helps others work through personal problems that may distort certain moods, such as anger or frustration. Mood disorders may affect more people than you might realize. They’re sometimes based on specific events, like the death of someone you love, or they might be chronic problems such as seasonal affective disorder. Call the office today to learn more about how the practice can help your mood disorder.

What does it mean to have a mood disorder?

A mood disorder can mean several things. Generally, it implies that your emotional state or mood is distorted or inconsistent with your circumstances, and can interfere with your ability to function or behavior. Anger that becomes uncontrollable rage is a good example of a mood disorder in action. Prolonged depression is also a type of mood disorder.

Other examples of mood disorders include:

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
• Bipolar disorder

Some of these are treated medically, but all benefit from psychotherapy, as well.

What causes a mood disorder?

There is no easy answer to that question because the root cause is different for every patient. Usually, it is a combination of environmental, psychological, genetic, and biological factors. In other words, a person may be prone to depression, but a specific event like the death of a parent can aggravate and enhance the emotion of grief and hopelessness. The goal of psychotherapy is to find that root cause and help work through it. That treatment helps the patient manage their moods.

What are the symptoms of a mood disorder?

Mood disorders vary from person to person. Some common emotional symptoms include:

• Thoughts of suicide
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
• Feeling of emptiness
• Persistent anxiety
• Overwhelming pessimism

Some patients exhibit signs of mania instead of sadness. This is also common with mood disorders. Symptoms of mania include:

• Prolonged elation
• Restlessness
• Agitation
• Grandiose actions
• Impulsive behavior

There are often physical signs of a mood disorder, as well, such as:

• Lack of energy
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Overeating
• Undereating
• Sleeplessness
• Difficulty waking up

Is a mood disorder the same thing as having an addiction?

Mood disorders can often be linked to addictions, but they are not the same. Sometimes people with a mood disorder seek to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. They want to feel better, so they drink or seek to get high. Most addiction does have an underlying problem that can fall into the mood disorder category, but addictions should be treated alongside the mood disorders that contribute to them. The Modalities Group offers treatment for mood disorders, and the compassionate team can help you navigate your addictive behaviors if necessary. 

To book a consultation, call the office or book online today.