Everyone gets sad or depressed sometimes. It’s a normal part of dealing with life, but when a stressful situation results in sudden anger, loss of sleep, irritability or other symptoms which persist indefinitely, you may be experiencing the first signs of a mood disorder. Thankfully, most symptoms can be managed.
WHAT IS A MOOD DISORDER?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “A mood disorder is a mental health class that health professionals use to broadly describe all types of depression and bipolar disorders.”
Though children, teens, and adults can all be affected, children and teens don’t always experience the same symptoms as adults. It’s difficult to pinpoint mood disorders in children because they can’t always express their feelings. Ketamine therapy, certain medicine, support and self-care can help lessen mood disorders.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF MOOD DISORDERS?
Two of the most common mood disorders people are most familiar with are depression and bipolar disorder. But these also have many sub-types.
Depression is a widespread mental disorder. Anguish or sadness is a normal response to a traumatic crisis or event, like the death of a spouse or loved one, loss of employment, or a severe illness. But, when depression remains present even when tense events have ended or you can’t find an obvious cause, doctors would then categorize your condition as clinical or major depression. For someone to be diagnosed with clinical depression, symptoms must persist for at least two weeks.
There are many kinds of depression, with varying symptoms depending on the form of the illness.
- Postpartum depression, which happens during pregnancy or following delivery.
- Persistent depressive disorder, which is a chronic type of depression that can last for up to two years or more.
- Seasonal affective disorder is another form of depression that happens during certain seasons, mostly beginning in the late fall or early winter and lasting until spring or summer. Rarely, this kind of depression may begin during the late spring or summer, with symptoms resembling those of major depression.
- Psychotic depression is a kind of severe depression paired with psychotic episodes, like hallucinations or delusions.
Depression may also be related to a medical ailment, medicine, or substance abuse.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings from periods of mania to depression. Low mood symptoms may be perceived as clinical depression. While having a manic episode, you may feel elated, irritable, or have boosted activity levels. There are four basic kinds of bipolar disorder.
- Bipolar I, the most severe type. You could experience manic episodes lasting a week and be severe enough to need hospitalization. Depressive episodes will also happen, frequently lasting for two weeks or more.
- Bipolar II disorder can result in cycles of depression like those of bipolar I. You may experience hypomania, a less serious form of mania. Someone experiencing bipolar II disorder is normally able to finish daily responsibilities and doesn’t need hospitalization.
- Cyclothymia disorder is a type of bipolar disorder that has sometimes been described as a calmer form of bipolar disorder. People with it have constant irregular mood swings – anything from mild- to moderate-emotional high points to mild- to moderate-low points – for extended lengths of time. Plus, changes in mood can happen fast and at any time. It’s characterized by short periods of normal mood. Adult diagnosis requires symptoms to have lasted for at least 2 years.
- “Other” or “unspecified” bipolar disorder whose symptoms don’t meet the criteria for one of the other kinds, but someone can still experience significant, abnormal shifts in mood.
Are there other mood disorders whose symptoms may be treatable with ketamine infusion therapy? Yes, they include:
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a kind of disorder that starts seven to 10 days before menstruation and subsides within a few days of the beginning of menstruation. Studies indicate this disorder is triggered by the hormonal changes associated with a menstrual cycle.
- Intermittent explosive disorder is a lesser-known disorder characterized by episodes of unwarranted anger out of balance compared to the situation.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Once a doctor or mental health provider has diagnosed your mood disorder, it’s time to discuss various treatment options. Given research and test results, ketamine treatment is an obvious choice. What else can help manage a mood disorder? In-patient and out-patient therapy, self-help, support groups, and changes in lifestyle.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, or another mood disorder, don’t wait until your life spins out of control before getting help. A family member or friend may offer support, but real progress can only be made after a diagnosis and the development of a treatment program, which may include ketamine infusion therapy. To learn more, contact us today!