Metro Atlanta Mood Disorder Therapy

A mood disorder can make it extremely difficult to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships, a job, or productivity in your day-to-day life. It can also lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, shame, and guilt. Working with a mental health professional is strongly recommended if you have a mood disorder or any symptoms of a mood disorder. At CNSL, our therapists and psychiatrists are here to support you and help you develop coping strategies, as well as explore other treatment options.

What Is a Mood Disorder?

If you have a mood disorder, your mood and your general emotional state can become distorted and inconsistent with what’s actually happening or your current circumstances in life. This can lead to extreme sadness, depression, anxiety, anger, and irritability, or could cause excessive happiness that alternates with feelings of depression.

Some of the most common mood disorders include:

• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Premenstrual dysmorphic disorder
• Substance- or medication-induced depressive disorder

The above list is not inclusive. It’s important that you talk to a mental health professional if you think that you may have a mood disorder or have any symptoms of a mood disorder. A psychiatrist can provide you with a diagnosis based on your specific symptoms.

What Are the Signs of a Mood Disorder? 

Each mood disorder has different symptoms and patterns, so it’s important to take note of all of your symptoms and then speak with a mental health professional. Some of the symptoms and signs of a mood disorder include:

• A lack of energy
• Feeling hopeless
• Not sleeping well or oversleeping
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Loss of interest in activities
• Depressive episodes preceded by or followed by periods of mania, characterized by:
  • Feeling extremely energized
  • Racing thoughts
  • Engaging in risky behaviors
  • Rapid speech or movement
  • Restlessness, irritability
  • Extreme elation that’s disproportionate to circumstances

How Can a Therapist Help? 

If you think that you may have a mood disorder, working with a therapist can be essential to building and maintaining healthy behaviors and reactions. A therapist can help by:

• Diagnosing your disorder. A correct diagnosis is the foundation for beginning treatment that is effective and appropriate for your needs.
• Help you to understand your disorder. People who have a mood disorder often don’t know that they do and are overwhelmed and confused by their emotions. Getting a diagnosis can bring clarity.
• Explore treatment options. A psychiatrist can help you explore the right treatment options for you and your condition. Treatment options might include lifestyle changes, medication, ongoing therapy, or a combination.
• Develop coping strategies. It’s important to realize that your mood disorder does not define you and that there are helpful coping strategies you can employ. For example, identifying triggers and having a plan for what you’ll do if a trigger is present can be one skill that you work on with your therapist’s support.

Call CNSL Today 

Living with an untreated mood disorder can be isolating, confusing, and stressful. But a mental health professional can help you build skills and coping mechanisms to take back control. To learn more about mood disorders and how working with a therapist can support you, call CNSL today. We are accepting new patients.