Mood Disorders

A mood disorder is a mental health condition marked by a disturbed or distorted emotional state that interferes with daily life. Mood disorders come in two main types: depression disorders and bipolar disorders. A person who has a depressive type of mood disorder will experience extended periods of sadness. For someone with a bipolar disorder, these periods of sadness will alternate with periods of intense happiness (mania).

Types of Mood Disorders

Depression

Major Depressive Disorder, also known as major depression or simply "depression", is an illness characterised by a continuous low mood, low energy, and/or a loss of interest and enjoyment in life. Although most of us have experienced periods of feeling “down” or “sad”, these feelings are usually fleeting and not as severe or chronic as the negative feelings that characterise depression. In Singapore, depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia is also known as Persistent Depressive Disorder. This condition is similar to Major Depressive Disorder, in that it also involves being in a continuously low emotional state. However, the feelings of sadness, emptiness, and/or lethargy are felt less intensely by someone with dysthymia compared to someone with major depression. The symptoms of dysthymia also last longer - for at least one year in children and teens, and at least two years in adults.

Bipolar Disorder

All bipolar disorders are characterised by periods of extreme emotion known as manic episodes and depressive episodes. Bipolar I and Bipolar II are the two most well-known types of bipolar disorder. Someone with Bipolar I experiences episodes of "full mania", which involve extremely elevated mood, high energy, and/or erratic behaviour. Someone with Bipolar II experiences episodes of "hypomania", which are less intense than full mania, but also more severe depressive episodes.

Treatments for Mood Disorders

Clinical studies have shown Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to be successful in treating mood disorders. Cognitive therapy works on the premise that emotions derive from thoughts, therefore in this therapeutic setting the therapist focuses on thoughts. The therapist will help you to identify common negative thinking patterns and challenge them until they are removed from the mind, consequently allowing healthy thought patterns to be developed. 

EMDR therapy and mindfulness-based therapies such as yoga may also be used in conjunction with cognitive therapy.

If you have a mood disorder or are struggling with any symptoms of depression or mania, please get in touch to book an appointment to speak to one of our counsellors.

To make an appointment,

Call/WhatsApp us on +65 9853-7253, email us at admin@counselingperspective.com, or book online to get instant confirmation.