do you have a mood disorder?texassuicideprevention.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/... · signs of...

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Millions of people in the United States are affected by one of the two major mood disorders: major depressive disorder (also known as unipolar depression) or bipolar disorder. What causes these disorders is still not fully understood, but researchers believe it is likely that they develop from imbalances in the brain's chemical activity in most cases. However, environmental factors are also suspected of playing a part. Feeling sad, hopeless and having frequent crying spells Losing interest in things you need to enjoy (including sex) Feeling guilty, helpless or worthless Thinking about death or suicide Sleeping too much or too little People with bipolar disorder experience both dramatic mood shifts and more mild attitude changes. Although everyone experiences mood changes to some extent, the shifts associated with bipolar disorder can be severe enough to disrupt normal life activities. Alternating between the following symptoms of mania and depression may indicate bipolar disorder. Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss or gain Feeling very tired all the time Trouble paying attention and making decisions Aches and pains that don’t get better with treatment Feeling restless, irritated and easily annoyed Signs of Major Depressive Disorder (Unipolar Depression) Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Mood Disorders Do You Have a Mood Disorder? Mania: the “highs” of bipolar disorder Depression: the “lows” of bipolar disorder Increased physical and mental activity and energy Heightened mood, exaggerated selfconfidence Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self importance Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety Pessimism, indifference Loss of energy, persistent lethargy Feelings of guilt, worthlessness Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness No pleasure in past interests, social withdrawal Unexplained aches and pains Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

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Page 1: Do You Have a Mood Disorder?texassuicideprevention.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/... · Signs of Major Depressive Disorder (Unipolar Depression) Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Mood Disorders

 

Millions  of  people  in  the  United  States  are  affected  by  one  of  the  two  major  mood  disorders:  major  depressive  disorder  (also  known  as  unipolar  depression)  or  bipolar  disorder.  What  causes  these  disorders  is  still  not  fully  understood,  but  researchers  believe  it  is  likely  that  they  develop  from  imbalances  in  the  brain's  chemical  activity  in  most  cases.  However,  environmental  factors  are  also  suspected  of  playing  a  part.    

r Feeling  sad,  hopeless  and  having  frequent  crying  spells  

r Losing  interest  in  things  you  need  to  enjoy  (including  sex)  

r Feeling  guilty,  helpless  or  worthless  r Thinking  about  death  or  suicide  r Sleeping  too  much  or  too  little  

People  with  bipolar  disorder  experience  both  dramatic  mood  shifts  and  more  mild  attitude  changes.  Although  everyone  experiences  mood  changes  to  some  extent,  the  shifts  associated  with  bipolar  disorder  can  be  severe  enough  to  disrupt  normal  life  activities.  Alternating  between  the  following  symptoms  of  mania  and  depression  may  indicate  bipolar  disorder.  

r Loss  of  appetite  or  unintended  weight  loss  or  gain  

r Feeling  very  tired  all  the  time  r Trouble  paying  attention  and  making  decisions  r Aches  and  pains  that  don’t  get  better  with  

treatment  r Feeling  restless,  irritated  and  easily  annoyed  

Signs of Major Depressive Disorder (Unipolar Depression)

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Mood Disorders

Do You Have a Mood Disorder?

Mania:  the  “highs”  of  bipolar  disorder   Depression:  the  “lows”  of  bipolar  disorder  

r Increased  physical  and  mental  activity  and  energy  r Heightened  mood,  exaggerated  self-­‐confidence  r Excessive  irritability,  aggressive  behavior  r Decreased  need  for  sleep  without  experiencing  

fatigue    r Grandiose  delusions,  inflated  sense  of  self-­‐

importance  r Racing  speech,  racing  thoughts,  flight  of  ideas  r Impulsiveness,  poor  judgment,  distractibility  r In  the  most  severe  cases,  delusions  and  

hallucinations  

 r Prolonged  sadness  or  unexplained  crying  spells  r Significant  changes  in  appetite  and  sleep  

patterns  r Irritability,  anger,  worry,  agitation,  anxiety  r Pessimism,  indifference  r Loss  of  energy,  persistent  lethargy  r Feelings  of  guilt,  worthlessness  r Inability  to  concentrate,  indecisiveness  r No  pleasure  in  past  interests,  social  withdrawal  r Unexplained  aches  and  pains  r Recurring  thoughts  of  death  or  suicide  

Page 2: Do You Have a Mood Disorder?texassuicideprevention.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/... · Signs of Major Depressive Disorder (Unipolar Depression) Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Mood Disorders

 

Mood  disorders  are  very  treatable.  Be  sure  to  tell  your  doctor  if  you  are  experiencing  any  of  the  symptoms  listed  above.  Talk  to  him  or  her  about  any  emotions  you  can’t  explain  or  that  concern  you.  Don’t  wait  to  start  the  discussion—early  treatment  keeps  mood  disorders  from  getting  worse,  lasting  longer,  and  affecting  your  physical  health.     Common  treatments  for  mood  disorders  include:  medication,  psychotherapy  (talk  therapy),  or  both.  One  or  both  of  these  treatments,  in  addition  to  support  from  family,  friends,  and/or  peers  can  help  lead  to  recovery.  

Mental  Health  America  offers  help  online  for  discussing  medications  with  doctors:   m Treatment  options  for  recovery:  

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/dialogueforrecovery  

 m More  information  on  medications:  

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/med_info  

 You  can  also  call  1-­‐800-­‐969-­‐6642  

Suicidal Thoughts and Feelings The  symptoms  of  a  mood  disorder  can  increase  someone’s  risk  of  suicide  or  other  self-­‐harming  behaviors.  If  you  have  thoughts  of  suicide  or  other  self-­‐harm,  do  not  hesitate  to  seek  help  or  find  someone  to  talk  to.  Tell  your  doctor,  your  family,  and  your  friends.  The  resources  listed  below  can  help  provide  additional  information  or  connect  you  to  a  hotline  operator  you  can  speak  with  about  your  thoughts  and  feelings.

In  a  crisis  or  emergency,  go  to  the  nearest  hospital  emergency  room,  call  911,  or  call  the  National  Suicide  Prevention  Lifeline  number  listed  below.  

School Counselors, Doctors, Nurses, Mental Health Professionals,

Religious Leaders

Mental Health America of Texas www.mhatexas.org

Texas Suicide Prevention Council www.TexasSuicidePrevention.org

Texas Youth Hotline

1-800-210-2278

Texas Underage Drinking Hotline 1-888-843-8222

Help Lines Pick up phone and dial 211

Or 1-800-833-5948

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Texas (NAMI Texas)

1-800-633-3760 www.namitx.nami.org

Texas Department of State Health

Services Community Centers

www.dshs.state.tx.us/mentalhealth.shm

National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov

American Foundation for Suicide

Prevention www.afsp.org

National Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-HIT-HOME

American Association of Child and

Adolescent Psychiatry www.aacap.org 1-800-333-7636

Mental Health America

www.MentalHealthAmerica.net 1-800-969-NMHA

 Boys Town 24/7 Hotline (for all

teens, parents, and families) 1-800-448-3000

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org � 1-800-273-Talk (8255)

Treatment

Do You Have a Mood Disorder?

Mental Health Resources