Mood disorders can affect how you think, feel, and navigate everyday life. At Willow Behavioral Health, we provide expert, compassionate care to help you manage symptoms and feel more balanced.
Understanding Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are a group of mental health conditions that involve ongoing or extreme shifts in mood. They can lead to sadness, irritability, or elevated emotions that interfere with relationships, work, and daily routines. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 21.4% of US adults experience a mood disorder during their lifetime.
Mood disorders affect a person’s emotional state for extended periods and often cause disruptions in thinking, behavior, and energy levels. They include a range of conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and others, with symptoms that can vary widely between individuals.
Both involve emotional distress, but mood disorders are typically chronic and may not be tied to a specific event. Adjustment disorders are short-term and triggered by life stressors, often resolving with time and support.
Types of Mood Disorders
Mood disorders include a wide spectrum of diagnoses, from depressive disorders and bipolar disorders to newer or less common conditions like DMDD and PMDD.
Depressive Disorders
Depressive disorders are defined by persistent sadness, low energy, and a loss of interest in life. Each subtype varies in severity, duration, and triggers, but all significantly affect day-to-day function.
- Ongoing sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in activities
- Low energy or fatigue
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Also known as clinical depression, MDD causes severe symptoms lasting at least two weeks that impact daily life.
Postpartum Depression (PPD): This occurs in new mothers, often within the first year after childbirth, and can include sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD): Previously called dysthymia, this is a long-term form of depression lasting two years or more. PDD symptoms may be milder but are chronic.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Seasonal affective disorder symptoms include low energy, oversleeping, and sadness during the fall or winter months due to reduced sunlight.
Depressive Disorder Resulting From a Medical Condition: Certain medical issues, like chronic illness or hormonal imbalances, can lead to depressive symptoms.
Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder: This type is caused by drug or alcohol use or withdrawal, and symptoms usually improve when the substance is removed.
Bipolar Disorder (BP)
Bipolar disorders involve mood swings that alternate between depressive lows and manic or hypomanic highs. These shifts can be intense and unpredictable, affecting sleep, energy, and judgment. Formerly known as manic depression, BP can be highly disruptive and requires professional diagnosis and care.
- Depressive symptoms: low mood, fatigue, feelings of hopelessness
- Manic symptoms: high energy, impulsivity, racing thoughts
- Hypomanic symptoms: elevated mood, irritability, increased activity
Bipolar I: Characterized by full manic episodes lasting at least seven days, often followed by depressive episodes.
Bipolar II: Involves a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomania, without full manic episodes.
Cyclothymic Disorder/Cyclothymia: This type includes chronic mood swings that aren’t severe enough to meet criteria for Bipolar I or II.
Hypomania: This is a milder form of mania that still impacts daily life but doesn’t require hospitalization.
Bipolar Disorder Resulting From a Medical Condition: Certain medical issues can trigger bipolar symptoms, particularly in the brain.
Substance/Medication-Induced Bipolar Disorder: This type develops due to drugs, alcohol, or prescribed medications.
Bipolar disorder causes distinct mood episodes, while Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) involves unstable self-image, emotions, and relationships. The two can sometimes overlap, but are different in cause and treatment.
Other Mood Disorders
Some mood-related conditions fall outside of the depression or bipolar categories but still need clinical care.
DMDD causes frequent temper outbursts and persistent irritability in children. Common symptoms include severe mood swings and trouble functioning at home or school. DMDD is often compared to Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), which is more about rule-breaking and defiance.
PMDD affects people in the days leading up to their period, causing severe mood shifts, anxiety, and fatigue. It’s a much more severe form of PMS and heavily affects the person’s daily functioning. Common PMDD symptoms mirror depression and anxiety.
This diagnosis is used when symptoms don’t fully match a specific mood disorder but still impact emotional well-being and functioning.
Mood Disorder Treatment Approaches
Mood disorders are treatable. The best approach depends on the specific condition, symptom severity, and personal preferences. Most people benefit from a mix of therapy, medication, and lifestyle support.
Diagnosis includes a detailed clinical interview, symptom review, and standardized assessments using DSM-5 guidelines.
Treatment may include bipolar disorder medication like lithium or antipsychotics, as well as antidepressants or mood stabilizers.
Holistic approaches like meditation, physical activity, sleep routines, and stress-reduction techniques support long-term recovery.
Therapy for mood disorders may include CBT, DBT, and trauma therapy to improve emotional regulation and coping.
Get Expert Mood Disorder Treatment at Willow
At Willow Behavioral Health, we tailor treatment to your needs, whether you’re living with depression, bipolar disorder, or another mood-related condition. Our team provides respectful, professional care with both in-person and online options.
A full-day program offering structured therapy, medication support, and crisis care without inpatient admission.
A flexible outpatient program that fits around work or school, with therapy several times a week.
Private, secure, and HIPAA-compliant virtual care including therapy, medication management, and check-ins from home.
Specialized treatment for mood disorders that occur alongside substance use, anxiety, or trauma.
Nurture Your Well-Being at Willow Behavioral Health
A mood disorder doesn’t define who you are. Willow Behavioral Health provides judgment-free, evidence-based support so you can feel more like yourself again. Get in touch today to take your first step toward feeling better.