What is a Mood Disorder?
Mood disorder has become a bit of a generic term when discussing mental health. In reality, the term mood disorder refers to one of two specific conditions: depression or Bipolar Disorder.
Many people refer to feeling sad or disappointed as "being depressed". This is a factually incorrect description. Depression is, in part, a chronic change in one's mood, outlook, or behavior. Normal sadness and disappointment don't linger on for weeks at a time.
Bipolar Disorder is a swing between feeling euphoric mania, and major depression. Bipolar Disorder can have a severe impact on the lives of people inflicted with it, as the euphoric mania stage sometimes results in excessive, irresponsible behavior -- spending a great deal of money unwisely, for instance, or inappropriately interjecting oneself into certain situations -- while the major depressive stage can leave a person almost completely incapacitated, and sometimes leads to a suicide attempt.
Having anxiety is quite a different scenario than having Bipolar Disorder. Anxiety is, generally speaking, feeling emotionally overwhelmed and/or extremely fearful, be it most of the time, or only in certain situations. The person with anxiety may feel as though they aren't in control, but an anxious person typically isn't going to engage in public displays of irrational or unreasonable behavior like someone with Bipolar Disorder may. Interestingly enough, this fear of becoming mentally ill is typically an indication that one is not mentally ill at all, as most people who are truly mentally ill consider themselves to be normal and healthy, and may even react hostilely to anyone suggesting otherwise.
While using the term mood disorder when one really means anxiety may just be a case of semantics, it is important to differentiate between various emotional and psychological conditions, if for no other reason than to ensure proper treatment.
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Disclaimer
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in the creation of this website, notwithstanding the fact that he does not warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
This site is a common sense guide to What is a Mood Disorder?. In practical advice websites, like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made. Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This site is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
Any perceived slights of specific people or organizations are unintentional.
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Dying to Be Thin
Sleep and Mood
Abilify
Creativity and Bipolar Disorder
Early Sign of Autism
Conduct Disorder
Alternative Therapies-Part 2
Combined-Type ADHD
Seasonal Affective Disorder or "SAD" is a common type of depression that affects some people during the change of seasons when there is less or no sunlight
Rapid Cycling in Bipolar Disorder
When Anxiety Becomes a Personality Disorder
Agoraphobia
Zoloft
When Fear Paralyzes
Schizophrenia
Symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder
Aspergers Syndrome
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Bipolar Depression Versus Clinical Depression
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar II Disorder
No Need to Hide
Seroquel
What is a Mood Disorder?
Dual Diagnosis
The Types of Depression
What is Social Anxiety
Choosing a Therapist Step-By-Step
Herbs That Help With Anxiety
Men and Depression
Alternative Methods in Mental Health Care
Culturally Based Healing Arts
The Psychopathic Personality
Two Herbs that Help with mental distress
Panic Attacks
What is Trichotillomania?
Remembering the Terror
The Most Common Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors
Addiction and Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Do I Need Mental Health Help?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Dysthymic Depression
When the Cure Harms
Adult Attention Deficit Disorder
Loving Someone With OCD
Expressive Therapies in Mental Health
Types of Self-Injury
Taking Control of Mental Illness
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