Mood Disorders
Mood disorders come in many different forms, but all of them cause such severe disruption to your emotional well-being that they can make it tough to lead a gratifying and functional life. Barry J. Richman, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in diagnosing and treating mood disorders at his clinic in Manhattan, New York, and has considerable experience in helping patients who are struggling to cope. Find effective treatment solutions for your mood disorders and other mental health issues by calling Barry J. Richman MD Psychiatry today, or book an appointment online.
What are mood disorders?
Mood disorders are mental health conditions that negatively alter how you feel, distorting your emotions and affecting your ability to function in daily life.
Some of the more frequently occurring mood disorders are:
Major depressive disorder
Depression that causes persistent, extended, and extreme low mood and feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder
Previously called manic depression, this disorder exhibits periods of depression alternating with periods of mania in the patient.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
A type of depressive disorder caused by low light levels and reduced hours of daylight.
Cyclothymic disorder
A condition that causes mood swings of a less extreme nature than those experienced by patients who have bipolar disorder.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Mood swings that happen regularly at certain times in a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
Chronic (long-term) depression.
Mood disorders can have devastating effects and may lead to suicidal thoughts if left untreated.
What are the symptoms of mood disorders?
The symptoms of mood disorders can vary depending on the type of disorder you have. You may feel persistently down and sad, cry constantly, have trouble sleeping, and find it hard to focus and concentrate or remember as well as you normally would.
You might feel angry or overexcited, for example, when in a manic phase, people who have bipolar disorder often feel elation and invulnerability that causes them to behave irrationally and take risks.
Different people who have the same mood disorder can also experience a different set of symptoms from each other. For instance, some people who have persistent depressive disorder may find it difficult to get to sleep, waking often and sleeping very little through the night. Other people with the condition might sleep for 12 hours or more at night and take naps in the daytime as well.
To find out what’s behind your mood disorder and determine the most effective treatment, it is recommended to visit an experienced mental health expert like Dr. Richman who can properly diagnose and treat this class of disorders.
What treatments are available for mood disorders?
Once you have a diagnosis of your mood disorder, Dr. Richman can create a treatment plan that he tailors to your individual needs, circumstances, and condition. Typical treatments for mood disorders are psychotherapy, medication, or most often, a combination of the two.
If you haven’t been feeling yourself lately and you’ve seen no sign of improvement, call Barry J. Richman MD Psychiatry to schedule an appointment, or book using the online tool.
