What Are Mood Disorders?
Anger, joy, sadness, anxiety, peace. We experience a wide range of emotions throughout our lives. Sometimes, they are extreme depending on the circumstances. However, a mood disorder occurs when an extreme mood lasts for an extended period of time or it causes significant impairment. In the case of depression or bipolar disorder, the emotional distress can be crippling.
What you may not know is that depression and bipolar disorder are not the only mood disorders. Dysthymia and cyclothymia are less severe, but they still cause problems for sufferers. Someone with dysthymic disorder experiences depressed moods nearly every day for two years or more. In the case of cyclothymia, a person has low-grade high periods (hypomanias) and brief periods of depression for an extended period. If you experience any of the following symptoms, schedule an evaluation with our mood disorder psychiatrist:
Dysthymia
- Feeling Sad, Hopeless or Empty
- Trouble Sleeping or Daytime Sleepiness
- Weight Changes
- Fatigue or Low Energy
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- Low Self-Esteem
- Trouble Concentrating or Making Decisions
- Thinking of Death or Suicide
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Cyclothymia
- Exaggerated Feeling of Happiness
- Extreme Optimism
- Inflated Self-Esteem
- Talking More than Usual
- Poor Judgment Resulting in Unwise Choices
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- Racing Thoughts & Inability to Concentrate
- Irritable or Agitated Behavior
- Excessive Physical Activity
- Decreased Need for Sleep
- Easily Distracted
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*In addition to Dysthymic Symptoms
Effective Mood Disorder Therapy
Life is not easy when you are dealing with a mood disorder – no matter how minor or major. Fortunately, with therapy and the proper medication, you can live a happy life again. Most mood disorders are the result of chemical imbalances in the brain. Not only is counseling needed to “relearn” good behaviors and better ways of coping, but the right prescription medication is essential. We specialize in providing effective mood disorder therapy for depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, cyclothymia, and also refractory mood disorders.
Contact us for more information about our sliding-scale options if you do not have insurance. We proudly serve clients throughout Westfield, Scotch Plains, Cranford, Springfield, Montclair and Union, New Jersey, as well as the surrounding areas.
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