How to treat and prevent mood disorders

Mood disorders are a group of mental illnesses that can impact your daily life. But timely consultation with a doctor can help in favorable treatment for healthy living. It is a broad term consisting of different types of mental illness, such as depressive and bipolar disorders. From teens to families, mood disorders variably affect people of all age groups and walks of life.

Doctors suggest that chemical imbalances can occur due to unprecedented reasons such as stressful events in life like family issues, trauma and divorce that can trigger depression. Mood disorders are more likely to take place when someone around you is already experiencing them and, in turn, affecting you.

Additionally, if you are struggling with problems of substance use, you may experience multifold mood disorders depending on your social environment. Those with existing health concerns such as heart disease, AIDS, and Alzheimer’s disease also tend to struggle with various stages of mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

Different types of mood disorders are:

• Depression

• Dysthymic disorder

• Bipolar disorder

• Common symptoms of mood disorders:

• Excessive high or elevated mood

• Decreased energy

• Extreme irritability or anger

• High optimism or pessimism about things

• Loss of interest in everyday activities

• Ill-timed tiredness and fatigue

• Changes in sleeping pattern and appetite

• Suicidal thoughts and actions

• Problems in personal and professional relationships

• Relationship problems

• Problems in concentrating at work or personal life

• Lack of ability to make decisions

If you are experiencing a number of these symptoms, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor for professional advice.

Diagnosis

It is important that a psychiatrist or mental health professional diagnose mood disorders, noting that it is a real medical conditions. After diagnosis, the medical expert can provide an appropriate psychiatric evaluation and treatment options to the patient.

What can you do about it?

According to experts, mood disorders are potentially treatable. With the right treatment at the right time, people can overcome stress and anxious behavior to live a healthy and stable life. You can opt for one treatment option or a combination of two or more in accordance with the degree and intensity of your mood disorders.

Some of the most prominent treatments include:

Counseling

Counseling is one of the most effective treatments. You can either go for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) which will help you establish the relationship between your moods and behavior or interpersonal therapy which will teach you the necessary skills to improve how you connect with people.

Medication

People struggling with depression are often prescribed antidepressants by a healthcare professional. Furthermore, bipolar disorder is treated with mood stabilizers. Your counselor or doctor may prescribe you relevant medications to treat your anxiety, stress or depression.

Electroconvulsive therapy

For those experiencing severe depression or bipolar disorder, ECT is a recommended treatment. This therapy is performed in the presence of an expert at a medical clinic or hospital. In this fast-acting therapy, an electrical current is sent through the patient's brain for a few seconds while they are placed under general anesthesia.

Self-management

The doctor may advise you to indulge in certain self-management exercises to help you feel better about your life. These exercises may vary from getting proper sleep and rest to spending time with family and friends. At the same time, regular workouts, maintaining a healthy diet, managing stress, and keeping a check on alcohol and other substance use also aid in controlling mood disorders.

Is it preventable?

Reportedly, there are no known ways to prevent or limit the advent of mood disorders. But early diagnosis by a professional expert can help in the early treatment of the disorders. As a result, you can apply control on the condition to progress in your personal and professional life.

While there are no specified causes of mood disorders, they are surely treatable. You can choose from the various treatment options in line with the challenges you face due to disruptive mood disorders. Consult a therapist or mental health expert for a timely remedy of the problem.