What's a mood disorder?
Anxiety and Depression are two common mood disorders. Most of us will experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. Sometimes, symptoms interfere with our ability to get things done, or they go on for a long period of time.
Clinical depression isn't just a feeling. It's a condition that can cause debilitating hopelessness, despair, apathy and irritability. It steals our motivation and turns everyday tasks into impossible burdens. It turns our assumptions about the future upside-down.
Symptoms of clinical depression may include persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness, a loss of interest in pleasurable things, insomnia or too much sleep, difficulty concentrating or a sense of helplessness. Research has shown that a combination of psychotherapy, resiliency training and healthy lifestyle changes can help those suffering from depression to heal. Medication is helpful in many cases.
Anxiety, fear and even panic are normal responses to stressful situations. Our bodies react automatically to threats, helping us to know when danger is present. Sometimes, however, we start to see threats constantly. We can easily become overwhelmed with worry and dread. We become hypervigilant, constantly on the lookout for things that could go wrong. We engage in worst-case-scenario thinking and start to feel helpless.
Anxiety, worry, fear and panic are treatable conditions. Therapists using Mindful Stress Reduction techniques, cognitive re-framing and relaxation exercises can help teach you how to reduce symptoms and feel more confident when dealing with problems.