Introduction

Mood disorders affect millions of people in the United States. They are a group of mental health conditions that affect a person’s mood and overall well-being. They can range from mild to severe, and can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life. Some common mood disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, cyclothymia, and seasonal affective disorder. It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of mood disorders and seek appropriate treatment in order to manage and improve quality of life. In this blog post, we will explore five common mood disorders and their associated symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

Overview: Mood disorders

Mood disorders are a group of illnesses that affect how you feel, think and act. They can be mild or severe and may include symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, irritability or even depression.

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders in America today affecting millions of people who struggle with it every day. Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness) is another mood disorder that causes extreme shifts in energy and emotion over short periods of time such as mania (feeling very high) followed by depression (feeling very low).

Bipolar disorder

It’s a mental illness that causes severe mood swings. It’s also known as manic-depressive disorder, and it affects about 1 in 100 people at some point in their lives.

It can be treated with medication and therapy, but it’s important to know that this type of treatment will not cure you of bipolar disorder—it’ll only help manage symptoms and prevent relapse. If after taking your medications for several months or years you still experience symptoms of depression or mania (such as racing thoughts), talk to your doctor about switching medications or other options like psychotherapy instead of trying to self-treat alone.

Bipolar I Disorder

Bipolar I Disorder is characterized by episodes of mania and depression. These may be separated by periods of normal mood, during which the person may function well even though they are experiencing symptoms.

Manic episodes are characterized by a distinct period of abnormally elevated, expansive or irritable mood (elevated from baseline). The person’s personalty is often very different from how he or she normally behaves during this time—they have increased energy, become more talkative and less inhibited than usual; they also have decreased need for sleep because they feel so excited about things that don’t require much rest (or “sleep”). This can last anywhere from one week to several months depending on the severity of symptoms experienced in each episode.

Depressive episodes include symptoms such as tearfulness or sadness for no apparent reason; low self-esteem; fatigue; difficulty concentrating; change in appetite towards foods high in sugar content such as chocolate bars etc., which may lead them wanting comfort food like pizza instead

Bipolar II Disorder

Bipolar II disorder is a mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of depression and hypomania. The patient may experience episodes of mania, which are characterized by elevated mood or irritability.

Bipolar II disorder is considered to be a milder form of bipolar I but still shows similar symptoms such as changes in sleep patterns and energy levels, aggression or anxiety-like behavior (e.g., restlessness), problems concentrating and making decisions, poor judgment about finances or sexual relationships—and even suicidal thoughts when going through an episode.

Some people with bipolar II do not experience hypomania at all; however others can go through short periods where they feel unusually happy or energetic without feeling overly anxious before falling into their depressive state again after these highs subsided.*

Cyclothymic Disorder

Cyclothymic Disorder is a mood disorder that involves a person experiencing several episodes of hypomania and depression. It’s considered to be a milder form of bipolar disorder, but it can still be very debilitating for some people.

Cyclothymic Disorder may be more common than bipolar disorder. In fact, up to half of people with cyclothymia have full-blown bipolar disorder in their lifetime; however, most cases do not progress into full-blown mania or depression.

Cyclothymic Disorder Symptoms

Cyclothymic Disorder Symptoms

• Difficulties in regulating emotions.
• Mood swings.
• Irritability and anger, especially when someone does not meet your needs or expectations.
• Increased energy and activity levels, including increased risk-taking behavior (e.g., driving too fast).

Major Depressive Disorder or Depression

Depression is a common mood disorder that affects more than one in ten Americans and can cause serious health problems. It’s characterized by an inability to feel pleasure, sadness, or interest in activities you once enjoyed. You may also have trouble sleeping and concentrating on things that used to be enjoyable for you.

You should see your doctor if:

Dysthymia or Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymia is a depressive disorder that causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness and emptiness. It’s a chronic condition that lasts for at least two years and can affect your ability to work or exercise.

The symptoms of dysthymia include: feeling sad and irritable more often than usual; feeling worthless; losing interest in hobbies and activities you used to enjoy; having trouble making decisions even small ones like what movie to see on Netflix; having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night (because of restless legs).

If you think you might have dysthymia, it’s important to talk with your doctor about the symptoms so they can help determine if there’s anything else going on besides just being depressed. If so, then treatment may be necessary instead of just being told “you’ll feel better eventually.” You can also try talking therapy alone or with friends who have been through similar experiences as well as family members who understand what one goes through when dealing with these types of issues regularly over time period(s).

Dysthymia Symptoms

Dysthymia, or chronic depression with symptoms that don’t meet the full criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), is a type of low-grade depression. It’s not as severe as MDD and can go on for years without causing any problems—but it can still cause significant symptoms such as:

• Depressed mood most of the day nearly every day
• Little interest or pleasure in doing things
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month) or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day

Mood disorders affect millions of people in the United States. 

Mood disorders like bipolar disorder and depression affect millions of people in the United States. If you experience mood swings, talk to your doctor.

Bipolar disorder is a manic episode (high) or mixed episodes (low-high), characterized by extreme changes in mood, energy and activity levels that last for at least one week. There are several types of bipolar disorder: manic episodes, depressive episodes and mixed episodes.

Depression is a medical condition marked by feelings of sadness or hopelessness that persist for more than two weeks; loss interest in activities; problems sleeping; diminished ability to concentrate; suicidal thoughts/attempts/intentions; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; extreme sensitivity to criticism “I just can’t do anything right!”;”feeling like nothing matters anymore.”

Conclusion

There are many causes of mood disorders, but they are all treatable. If you or a loved one experiences symptoms of bipolar disorder, depression, or another mood disorder, the first step is to see a doctor who can diagnose and treat your condition. You may also want to talk with a mental health professional for advice on managing your symptoms.