Understanding Emotional Disorders

The term “emotional disorders” usually refers to mental health conditions like mood disorders.

When people use the term emotional disorders, they’re usually talking about mental health conditions that affect your mood. Mood disorders, also called affective disorders, include conditions like clinical depression and bipolar disorder.

According to the American Psychological Association’s Dictionary of Psychology, emotional disorders include psychological disorders where people have “maladjustive emotional reactions that are inappropriate or disproportionate to their cause.”

When used loosely, the term can refer to any mental health condition.

Emotional or mood disorders can be treated, often through talk therapy and medications. If you have an emotional disorder, it’s possible to heal and feel better.

In clinical settings, the term “mood disorder” is used more often than the term “emotional disorder.”

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Common emotional disorders include:

depressive disorders, which encompass a wide range of conditions
bipolar disorder, which can include various types, such as bipolar I bipolar II, and cyclothymi
premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which involves severe emotional symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Common depressive disorders include:

major depressive disorder (MDD), which features long periods of low mood, hopelessness, fatigue, and other symptoms
persistent depressive disorder, which is also called dysthymia and involves having less severe depression symptoms for at least 2 years
major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which typically occurs during winter
perinatal depression, which occurs during pregnancy
postpartum depression, which occurs after birth

Anxiety disorders aren’t considered mood disorders, although they can affect mood and often occur alongside the mood disorders mentioned above.

The symptoms of emotional disorders vary based on the individual and their specific disorder, and not everybody with an emotional disorder will have the same symptoms and experience.

You can generally divide the symptoms of emotional disorders into two groups:

depressive symptoms, which occur in depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, and PMDD
mania symptoms, which occur during manic and hypomanic episodes in bipolar disorder

Depressive symptoms include:

fatigue or a lack of energy
feelings of sadness or hopelessness
feelings of numbness
loss of appetite or overeating
loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy
sleeping too much or not enough
trouble focusing or concentrating
thoughts of suicide, death, or self-harm

Symptoms of hypomanic or manic episodes include:

engaging in risk-taking behavior, like overspending money, driving recklessly, or substance misuse
difficulty sleeping
feeling excessively or unusually energized, elated, or confident
racing thoughts
restlessness or irritability
speaking or talking quickly

It’s important to note that these symptoms can also point to another condition (in other words, not an emotional disorder). For example, some depressive symptoms are common in people with PTSD.

Although the causes of mood disorders aren’t entirely understood, there are a number of factors that seem to increase your risk of developing a mood disorder, according to research .

The risk factors for emotional disorders include:

Brain function: The structure and chemistry of your brain may play a role in whether you develop a mood disorder.
Genetics: You’re more likely to develop an emotional disorder if a close blood relative has the same disorder.
Hormones: Recent research notes that increased levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone are associated with depression. Hormones also may play a role in the development of perinatal or postnatal depression, as well as PMDD.
Physical health: Certain physical health conditions, such as cancer, HIV, and hypothyroidism, can increase your risk.
Substance use: The use (and misuse) of certain substances, including amphetamines, cocaine, procarbazine, and steroids, can cause symptoms similar to mood disorders.
Traumatic life experiences:Trauma, although usually associated with PTSD, can also cause or trigger mood disorders.

Emotional disorders are diagnosed by mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, nurse psychotherapists, or psychologists. A general practitioner may also make a diagnosis, although they might refer you to a mental health specialist first.

Your clinician might ask about your current symptoms, medical history, and family history. They may use certain questionnaires to assess your mental health. If your symptoms fit the diagnostic criteria for a certain condition, you might be diagnosed with the disorder.

You don’t need a diagnosis before you approach a therapist. It’s possible to receive talk therapy even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a disorder.

Emotional disorders can be treated. The treatment course you take will depend on your condition.

Psychotherapy

Also known as talk therapy, psychotherapy can be helpful for people with mood disorders.

Talk therapy can help you identify and change unhealthy patterns in your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. You can use therapy as a space to explore and process your feelings in a constructive, healthy way.

Many different types of therapy are used to treat emotional disorders. Some of the most common types of therapy include:

cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
psychodynamic therapy

Talk therapy is done with a qualified, licensed mental health professional, such as a clinical social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

Medication

In some cases, certain medications — such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers — can significantly benefit people with emotional disorders.

Common medications for emotional disorders include:

Antidepressants: Antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are used to treat numerous mental health conditions.
Antipsychotics (neuroleptics): These are often prescribed for bipolar disorder. Sometimes, depression is treated with an atypical antipsychotic as well as an antidepressant.
Mood stabilizers: These medications can help to regulate the mood changes that occur with bipolar disorder. They are sometimes combined with antidepressants.

Alternative treatments

In some cases, your doctor may suggest alternative treatments, such as.

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
light therapy
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
psychedelic-assisted therapy

These treatments can be helpful, especially if you have treatment-resistant depression or bipolar disorder (in other words, conventional medication and therapy only improve your condition very slightly).