Mood disorders affect a patient's emotional state and overall mood. These disorders are characterized by disruptions in mood, often causing distress and impairing daily functioning.
There are several types of mood disorders, including:
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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Commonly known as depression, MDD involves persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities. Other symptoms may include changes in appetite and sleep patterns, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Not all patients experience such severe symptoms
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Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of mood swings between depressive episodes and manic or hypomanic episodes. During manic episodes, individuals may experience elevated mood, increased energy, impulsivity, and a decreased need for sleep. Hypomanic episodes are similar but less severe than manic episodes.
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Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD): Formerly known as dysthymia, PDD involves chronic depression lasting for at least two years. Individuals with PDD may experience depressive symptoms along with periods of normal mood, but the symptoms are generally less severe than those of MDD.
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Cyclothymic Disorder: Cyclothymic disorder is a milder form of bipolar disorder. It involves periods of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms that last for at least two years but do not meet the criteria for a full-blown manic or depressive episode.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD is a subtype of depression that occurs seasonally, usually during the winter months when there is less sunlight. Symptoms include depressed mood, fatigue, increased sleep, weight gain, and social withdrawal, but they improve during the spring and summer.
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Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Symptoms, including mood swings, irritability, sadness, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating, occur in the week before menstruation and improve shortly after the onset of menstruation.
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Mood disorders range in severity and can be related to nutritional deficits, life stressors, psychological trauma and neurophysiological predisposition. At Resilient Minds we treat the underlying stress and unprocessed emotions in psychotherapy and with Neuro Emotional Technique. We also use herbs and supplements to correct underlying organ system imbalances which are affecting mood.
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