Depression and mood disorders

Depression is a mood disorder, in other words a mental disorder that mainly affects a person's emotional state. It is a disorder in which an individual experiences prolonged periods of sadness or extreme sadness, or both.

While it is normal for one's mood to change from time to time, someone diagnosed with a mood disorder displays symptoms for several weeks or longer. Mood disorders can cause changes in your behaviour and can affect your ability to deal with routine activities, such as work or school.

Types of mood disorders and symptoms

These are the most common types of mood disorders and their symptoms:

• Depression: Feeling sad or hopeless, and Having less interest in daily activities. Symptoms generally last for at least two weeks.
• Dysthymia: A chronic, low-grade, irritable, or depressed that lasts for at least two years.
• Bipolar disorder: A condition in which a person has periods of depression alternating with periods of elevated mood or mania
• Mood disorder related to another health condition: Medical illnesses (including injuries, infections, cancer and chronic diseases) can trigger symptoms of depression.
• Substance-induced mood disorder: Symptoms of depression are due to the effects of medication, drug abuse, alcoholism, exposure to toxins, or other forms of treatment.
• Suicide and Self Harm: Characterised by thoughts of killing yourself or actively physically harming yourself.

Treatment

People with mood disorders may benefit from various types of therapy sessions. Marésa focuses on using Cognitive behavioural therapy to treat mood disorders.

During therapy, Marésa will work with you to identify negative or false thoughts and replace those thoughts with healthier, more realistic thoughts. The change in your attitude may lead to a change in your behaviour, which, in turn, can help ease your mood disorder.