Mood Disorders

Mood disorders like depression can devastate people’s lives and profoundly affect their loved ones as well. If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, Sherifat Forcey, PMHNP-BC, of Forcey Behavioral Health Services, can help. She has considerable experience helping people who have depression and other mood disorders to get their lives back. Call the office in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, or request an in-person or telehealth appointment online today. 

What are mood disorders?

Mood disorders are a collection of mental health conditions that have a negative effect on the way you feel. Your emotions become distorted, and you find you’re unable to lead a normal life due to the changes you experience because of your mood disorder.

The most common mood disorders are:

Depression

Depression is far more than just feeling blue now and again, which is perfectly normal. If you have depression, it causes persistent feelings of intense sadness, despair, and self-loathing. Depression can be a mild, moderate, or severe condition. 

Some people experience an extremely low mood that pushes them to the point of considering whether it’s worth carrying on. This is a major depressive disorder which needs urgent treatment.

Bipolar disorder 

Bipolar used to be known as manic depression because it involves extreme changes in mood from deep depression to periods of mania where patients feel almost superhuman. 

The yo-yo effect can be devastating, and people who have bipolar often find they have little control when they’re experiencing a period of mania, leading to risk-taking behaviors.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

SAD is a form of depression that’s related to low light levels and lack of exposure to daylight during the winter months.

Dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder)

Dysthymia is depression that’s become a chronic condition, often lasting for years.

What are the symptoms of mood disorders?

Each type of mood disorder varies in the precise nature of the effects it has. Feeling down all the time, finding little joy or interest in life, crying jags, and sleeping problems are common symptoms of mood disorders. 

You may struggle to concentrate, have trouble remembering things, and overreact to small setbacks. If your mood is very low, you may become withdrawn to the point where you are almost catatonic or find it impossible to get yourself out of bed. Or you may find you lose your temper and react violently or irrationally. 

Individuals also experience different symptoms when they have the same disorder. For example, one person with depression might find it hard to sleep and lose their appetite, while another wants to sleep all the time and constantly feels hungry.

What treatments are available for mood disorders?

Getting to the source of your mood disorder can be an important first stage in your treatment, as it guides Sherifat’s therapeutic techniques. If you have SAD, for instance, then lightbox therapy is an essential tool in your recovery.

Sherifat takes time to listen to you and learn about your unique circumstances and challenges so she can design a treatment program that meets your needs. She may use approaches such as CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) or solution-focused brief therapy to help you change unhealthy thought patterns.

If you’re struggling with feelings of depression or other mood problems, call Forcey Behavioral Health Services to schedule an appointment or request one online today.