A mood disorder is a mental health condition that is categorized by the sudden elevation or lowering of a person’s mood. Mood disorders can impact one’s emotional state through consecutive periods of extreme euphoria and then depressive episodes. Around 21.4% of the general population in the U.S. experiences a mood disorder at a certain point in their lives.
Depressive episodes, as the name indicates, are a period of extreme sadness or hopelessness. The depressive episodes induced by a mood disorder can make an individual experience extreme distress with an always-present sense of underlying dread. Read on to learn more about 4 of the most common types of mood disorders:
4 Common Types Of Mood Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
An individual tackling this particular anxiety disorder struggles with excessive worrying about even some of the most casual stuff, on a daily basis. The symptoms of GAD can be intense or mild depending upon environmental circumstances and how long a particular individual has been struggling with it. On average symptoms subside after a 6-month-long period.
General anxiety disorder can result in the lack of concentration in addition to extreme restlessness. People often report trouble while sleeping, extreme irritation, and muscle tension while tackling GAD.
When it comes to generalized anxiety disorder, there can be severe ups and downs in terms of mood. An individual can be extremely reactive to situations that would seem normal to others. This particular symptom is more noteworthy because it is easy to associate this sort of overreaction with bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder too which can cause confusion.
Living with GAD can be a long-term struggle because even the calmest situations can sometimes seem threatening or dangerous. The extreme indecisiveness rooted in restlessness and the inability to overthink matters can impact one’s quality of life. In extreme cases, irritable bowel syndrome and nausea can also result due to distressing circumstances. Lastly, some common triggers may include; the risk of a natural disaster, any risk related to the safety of one’s family, fear of losing or failing at something, performance-related stress induced by work or school-related tasks, etc.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
This particular mood disorder is also known as dysthymia. When suffering from PDD, an individual can experience mild depressive episodes. Although these episodes are much milder compared to other kinds of mood disorders, their duration can be extremely hard to withstand.
Dysthymia can induce an extreme lack of productivity and concentration. Someone with this mood disorder can struggle with low self-esteem and experience unhappiness and lack of satisfaction. It can easily put a hold on a person’s social interactions with others. Northwest Ohio Ketamine Clinic offers a variety of psychiatric services that cater to those with extreme or mild cases of persistent depressive disorder.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is categorized by extreme mania, which is then followed by depressive episodes. During the course of the former, an individual may feel euphoric. They can make decisions on a whim which can alter their life for the worst.
Mood fluctuation and manic episodes can even land a person in the ER. It can practically destroy a person’s life and personal relationships. It’s a common pattern among people with this disorder to make major life decisions that they regret later on once their mood shifts back. Followed by extreme euphoria is the dread of the depressive episode, which can sometimes completely drain a person’s energy.
During the second phase of the disorder, extreme unhappiness and even suicidal ideation can emerge. Bipolar disorders are further divided into the following categories: cyclothymic disorder, bipolar disorder I, and bipolar disorder II.
Major Depressive Disorder
This mood disorder, like most mood disorders on this list, is categorized by an overbearing feeling of existential dread and sadness. The depressive episodes of MDD can last for weeks at a time. Apart from impacting one’s sleep habits, these episodes can impact decision-making skills, thus affecting one’s quality of life as a whole.
During the course of these episodes, a person can experience a lack of self-esteem and, in extreme cases, suicidal ideation.
Final Words
If you have a history of mood disorders in the family, the likelihood of you having one also increases. Luckily, there are more treatment options available than ever before. If you or someone you know is struggling with mood disorder symptoms, looking into ketamine infusion therapy is an excellent place to start.
