Mood disorders can profoundly impact one’s ability to manage emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Left untreated, mood disorders can negatively impact functioning at work or school, satisfaction in relationships, and the ability to meet personal goals. Therapists at Affective Counseling understand the enormous effect mood plays in the perception of self and others, and how it can interfere with daily life. Our therapists have spent years working with individuals suffering from mood disorders, researching the most current and effective treatments, and developing strategies and interventions that allow clients to regain control of their lives. Some of these interventions include:
“Normal” mood change can be viewed as a pendulum that swings back and forth between “happy” and “sad.” Most people recognize these patterns and can usually adjust accordingly. In bipolar disorder, however, the pendulum swings abruptly from one mood to another so that sadness becomes depression and happiness becomes mania leading to emotional extremes that can feel unmanageable. The pendulum can cycle so rapidly or unpredictably that an individual never has a chance to achieve a resting point where emotions are under control (euthymic state). Shifts in mood can be triggered by external stimuli or can seem to shift for no apparent reason. The following are symptoms that can be indicative of Bipolar Disorder:
Bipolar Disorder Articles
Most people understand feelings of depression or profound sadness that result from negative life events, such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or the emotional pain following the end of a close relationship. A person struggling with Major Depressive Disorder may feel depressed for no apparent reason or unable to recover from a negative life event. Feelings of hopelessness, lack of self-worth, and even self-hatred can lead to a sense of entrapment where reaching life goals or escaping from a bad situation seems impossible. The following symptoms can be indicative of Major Depressive Disorder: