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Mood Disorders
You may be considered to have mood disorders if your emotions and moods seem to be out of your control for long periods of time. There are several different types of mood disorders but fortunately, an expert New York psychologist can treat them all. If you recognize a symptom of any mood disorder, take quick measures and have yourself treated. This article mentions the different types of mood disorders and how to treat them.
Bipolar Disorder
This disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings which vary from depression to an intense emotional high known as mania. During a manic episode, you feel more energetic, often becoming unusually talkative, and your thoughts come out more clearly. You might also get more work done and your actions may become unpredictable, even in unhealthy ways. These mood swings may happen as often as several times a week or a few times the whole year.
Treatment of this disorder might come from antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. You may need to see a psychiatrist for the medication as well as a psychologist to help you deal with whatever problems underlie the disorder. In extreme cases, you may have to undergo and electroconvulsive therapy, where an electric current is passed through your brain.
Major Depressive Disorder
Also referred to as clinical depression, it can be described as more than having “the blues”. It’s characterized by long periods of extreme sadness, with bouts of anger and frustrations. You may tend to lose interest in things that you previously enjoyed and start to feel hopeless, empty, distracted and tired. Small tasks begin to feel overwhelming, and you may have trouble sleeping, with the sleeping becoming either too little or too much. Some people with clinical depression might experience minor manic symptoms, but not enough to be considered bipolar.
You may be required to speak with a trained therapist or mental health professional, a process referred to as psychotherapy or talk therapy. These talks can be either one-on-one or in a group session, with other patients experiencing the same problem. If your symptoms are severe, the doctor might give you some medication to help.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
This is a form of major depressive disorder, where the symptoms persist over a period of more than two years. It includes two types of depression – chronic major depression and dysthymic disorder.
Medications can help with PDD but often, you’ll have to undergo a talk therapy session which will help. You’ll take part in sessions such as cognitive behavioral therapy where you’ll learn about your condition, and perform activities that will help you understand your thoughts and behavior, and change them.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
This condition is very similar to major depressive disorder and but the symptoms are triggered by the change of seasons, that is they begin and end about the same time year in and year out. It often begins in fall, continues during winter and ends in spring. The symptoms are similar to those of the other types of depression, such as a feeling of lethargy, feeling moody and anxious, and having trouble sleeping, among others.
Treatment is done using antidepressants and talk-therapy. Your doctor might also recommend light therapy where you’ll be required to sit or work close to bright light, that’s very similar to the natural light.