What Are Mood Disorders?
Mood disorders cover a vast array of diagnoses and symptom presentations. Click here to read more about mood disorders from the Mayo Clinic. Some of the most known mood disorders include:
- Bipolar I
- Bipolar II
- Dysthymia
- Cyclothymia
- Major Depressive Disorder
The onset of these symptoms can occur at different points throughout people’s life spans. Challenges with emotion and mood regulation may also be linked with past traumatic experiences.
Impacts of Mood Disorders on Life
Mood disorders can vary in intensity for each person. Some people are able to manage these fluctuations with routines and habits (discussed lower in the blog post) and others may need the support of either psychiatric medications, a mental health counselor, or both. The goal of all interventions are to support someone’s ability to function effectively in the community.
Here a few ways that mood disorders can impact a daily functioning:
- Interfere with quality rest
- Increase irritability/anger
- Create paranoia
- Interpersonal challenges in relationships and the workplace
- Road rage
- Isolation and tardiness at work
- Challenges with concentration and focus
- Restlessness or lethargy
- Euphoria
- Grandiosity
- Reckless behaviors
- Poor and impulsive decision making
At times, a person’s mood disorders can become so severe that they necessitate inpatient psychiatric hospitalization to ensure their own safety and the safety of others.Â
Do Mood Disorders go Away Naturally?
Usually, no. There have been instances where people have outgrown these illnesses. However, these are rare occurrences. Most often, once these genes are activated it is almost impossible to shut them off. That is why symptom management, mindfulness, and other emotion regulation skills become paramount.
Eight Tips to Regulate Mood Disorders
Below are eight tips to help regulate both symptoms and mood fluctuations when they occur:
- Mindfulness skills
- Guided imagery
- Paced breathing techniques
- Grounding skills
- Implementing routines around diet, sleep, and overall wellness in life
- Regular exercise
- Attending regular mental health therapy sessions*
- Possibly taking daily psychiatric medications*
If you have tried the above tips (without the Asterix) to regulate your symptoms and/or mood and they have not worked. This may be an indication that working 1:1 with a therapist and/or a psychiatrist is needed to support symptom management and overall functioning.
Can Kenosha Therapy Help Mood Disorders?
Working with an individual therapist, whether online or in-person, can be very beneficial to a person’s mental health. Specifically speaking, therapy that addresses mood disorders can greatly increase a person’s ability to self-regulate their mood and nervous system. At times, therapy works best in conjunction with psychiatric medications. If you are looking for a local psychiatrist that understands mood disorders, click here to read more about Dr. Alok Singh and how he works with clients.
Wisconsin Mental Health Therapy for Mood Disorders
Revitalize Mental Health PLLC provides in-person therapy sessions on the weekends and online teletherapy sessions in both the evening weekdays and on the weekends. Click here to start your journey of healing with a free 20-minute consultation call.
