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Are your feelings running the show?
Mood Disorders can make the day-to-day feel unpredictable. Sometimes the shifts are extreme. One minute, you're on top of the world. The next, you're struggling to function. Whether you're navigating depression, bipolar, or ongoing mood instability, therapy can help you find more stable ground.
What is a Mood Disorder?
Mood Disorder affects how you feel day-to-day, what we call your emotional baseline. Everyone experiences ups and downs, but mood disorders make these more intense, frequent, or long lasting. These disorders include:
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder has a spectrum of severity (mild to severe), based on the following symptoms:
Persistent low mood.
Loss of interest or pleasure
Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
Loss of appetite or overeating
Fatigue
Restlessness
Feelings of worthlessness/guilt
Thoughts or plans of not wanting to be here.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder is defined by two types: Bipolar I and Bipolar II. Bipolar I experiences full mania while Bipolar II experiences hypomania, a less intense version of mania.
Symptoms of Bipolar, include:
Cycling between periods of mania and depression.
Mania is elevated or irritable mood, decreased need for sleep, more talkative, flights of ideas, increase in goal motivation, and risky behavior.
Depression is low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, fatigue, impacts on sleep and appetite, and thoughts of no longer being here.
Additional Diagnoses
Additional Diagnoses
Other mood disorders include:
Premenstural Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Mood changes in the week or two prior to menstruation
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Depressive episodes related to season changes, primarily going into winter.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Fluctuating mood that doesn't meet full Bipolar criteria.
Dysthymia
Low grade depression lasting at least 2 years.
How do you treat Mood Disorders?
Our team starts by evaluating how your mood disorder is impacting your day-to-day. We approach this by using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Strength Based Focus, Relapse Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). By focusing on a combination of skills, your strengths, and goals, we work collaboratively to identify a plan to help support you through the unpredictability.
What do I do if I have a Mood Disorder?
While the ups and downs feel awful, mood disorders are treatable. Taking the first steps can feel overwhelming, but we are here to help. Our team can work with you to find a life that feels more stable.
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