Mood disorders: What you need to know

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Mood disturbance is a stress-related phenomenon. Depending on many factors such as life experience, personality, and stressful events, each person reacts differently. Most importantly, people with mood disorders need to recognize the signs and tolerance limits to self-correct or consult a doctor in time.

1. What is a mood disorder?

Mood disorders are a health phenomenon related to a state of stress (stress). Situations that cause undue stress, such as those caused by friendships, work, or school. Problems related to illness or death of a close family member or unexpected life changes can all cause stress. Most of the time, it takes a person to regain equilibrium within a month. If this process is disturbed, the condition will get worse, you may have trouble with emotional and behavioral problems that cause feelings of anxiety and depression. If the feeling cannot be overcome on its own, you can go to medical facilities for treatment.

2. Symptoms of Mood Disorders

The signs and symptoms of a mood disorder depend on the type of disorder and can vary from person to person. Mood disorders affect the way you feel and think about yourself and the world around you, and can also affect your behavior. Some examples include:
Feeling sad, hopeless, or having no feelings for things you used to enjoy Crying often Worrying or feeling stressed or restless Difficulty sleeping No appetite Difficulty concentrating Feelings Feeling overwhelmed Difficulty participating in daily activities Withdrawal from social support Avoiding important things like going to work or paying bills Having suicidal thoughts or behavior Symptoms of mood disorder begin beginning within 3 months of a stressful event and lasting no more than 6 months after the end of the stressful event. However, persistent or chronic mood disturbances may persist for more than 6 months, especially if a stressor is ongoing, such as unemployment. See your doctor if you're having trouble overcoming stress.

3. Causes of Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are caused by significant life changes or stress. Your genetics, life experiences, and personality can increase your chances of developing a mood disorder.

4. Risk factors for disease

4.1 Stressful Events Stressful life events, both positive and negative, can put you at risk for a mood disorder. Example:
Divorce or marriage problems Relationship problems Change in living conditions such as retirement, childbirth or schooling Adverse situations such as job loss, bereavement or problems finances Problems at school or at work Life-threatening, such as physical attack, fighting, or natural disaster Ongoing stressors, such as illness or living in a busy neighborhood crime scene 4.2 Life experiences Life experiences can impact how you deal with stress. Your risk of developing a mood disorder may be increased if you:
Experiencing severe stress in childhood Have another mental health problem There are many difficult things going on at the same time

5. Complications of mood disorders

If mood disorders are not addressed, they can eventually lead to more serious mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, depression, or substance abuse.

6. Prevention of Mood Disorders

Healthy coping skills and learning to be resilient can help during times of high stress. You should rely on your inner strength, promote healthy habits, and call on social support when dealing with stressful situations such as retirement, unemployment, or changing jobs. . You should also remind yourself that stress is only temporary, it will pass quickly. You can also see a doctor or mental health professional to find ways to manage the stress you're experiencing.

7. Diagnosis of mood disorders

A diagnosis of a mood disorder is based on identifying your stressors, symptoms, and how they affect your life. The doctor will ask about your mental health and medical and criminal history (if any). Doctors may use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. To diagnose mood disorders, the DSM-5 lists list the following criteria:
Have emotional or behavioral symptoms within 3 months caused by a specific stressor occurring in your life Experiencing overwhelming feelings of stress when dealing with Stressful events and relationships Symptoms are not related to another mental health disorder or normal grief.

Types of Mood Disorders
DSM-5 lists 6 different types of mood disorders. Although they are all related, each has its own signs and symptoms. Types of mood disorders include:
Depressed mood : Symptoms mainly include feelings of sadness, tears, hopelessness, and lack of pleasure in the things you used to love. Anxiety: Symptoms mainly include nervousness, anxiety, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, and feeling overwhelmed. Children with mood disorders with anxiety can be very afraid of being separated from their parents and loved ones. Anxiety combined with depressed mood: Symptoms include a combination of depression and anxiety. Behavioral disturbances: Symptoms are mainly related to behavioral problems such as fighting or reckless driving. Young people may drop out of school or destroy property. Mixed emotional and behavioral disturbances: Symptoms include a mixture of depression and anxiety as well as behavioral problems. Unspecified: Symptoms are inconsistent with other types of mood disorder, but often include physical problems, problems with family or friends, or problems with work or school. Duration of symptoms The duration and duration of signs and symptoms of mood disorders varies from person to person. Mood disturbances can be:
Acute : Signs and symptoms last 6 months or less. Symptoms ease when stressors are eliminated. Chronic: Signs and symptoms persist for more than 6 months. Symptoms continue to be annoying and disrupt your life.

8. Treatment of mood disorders

8.1 Psychotherapy Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is the primary treatment for mood disorders. Treatments may be offered as individual, group, or family therapy. Therapy can:
Emotional support Help you get back to normal routine Help find out why the stressful event is affecting you so much Helps you learn stress management and coping skills Stressful events 8.2 Medication Medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may be added to help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
You may only need to take the medicine for a few months, but do not stop taking any medicine without your doctor's approval. If stopped suddenly, some medications, such as antidepressants, can cause withdrawal symptoms.

9. Lifestyle and home remedies

9.1 Tips to Improve Resilience Resilience is the ability to adapt well to stress, adversity, trauma, or tragedy. Basically, resilience is gained after overcoming a difficult event. Building resilience can vary from person to person:
Stay connected with healthy social supports such as active friends and loved ones. Do something that gives you a sense of accomplishment, enjoyment, and purpose every day. Live a healthy lifestyle that includes good sleep, a healthy diet, and regular physical activity. Learn from past experiences on how you can improve your skills to overcome adversity. Stay hopeful about the future and strive with a positive attitude. Realize and develop personal strengths Face your fears and accept challenges. Make a plan to deal with problems when they occur, instead of avoiding them. 9.2 Find support Find support such as talking to family and friends, getting support from the community or finding a support group geared towards the situation you are facing.
9.3 Talk to your child about stressful events If your child is having trouble regulating his emotions, try gently encouraging him to talk about what he's going through. Many parents assume that talking about a difficult change, such as a divorce, will make the child feel worse. But your child needs a chance to express his feelings of grief and hear your reassurance that you will remain a source of love and support for him.

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References: Mayoclinic.org and Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov