The term “mood disorders” encompasses a broad range of human emotions. Most of us will suffer from unpleasant emotions that are often directly related to life events and are, fortunately, short-lived, such as reacting to the loss of a relationship. Such episodes do not necessarily require clinical help. However, psychotherapy can help individuals move past these difficult experiences by providing interventions focusing on regulating emotions, shifting patterns of thought, and increasing effective relationship skills.
If an unpleasant mood persists for a longer period of time, such as 2 weeks or more, or if it causes any impairment in daily functioning, then clinical attention is needed. Depression is quite common and affects approximately 7% of, or 15.7 million, adults. Depression also presents in various gradations of severity. Often, depressed people can put on a mask and are able to hide their suffering from the rest of the world. Depression tends to be recurrent and can be a result of other medical conditions or illnesses, such as cancer.
Depression is one example of a mood disorder that can be managed with one of the two proven modalities – medication and/or psychotherapy. Combining the two modalities is the most effective treatment strategy and is usually recommended. There are multiple medications approved by the FDA for the management of depression and other mood disorders, and our psychiatric medication specialist can help you choose one that works best for you.
If you or someone you know is suffering from any of these illnesses, it is best to contact a psychiatrist for a full diagnosis. Learn more by calling The Solace Center Sienna today.