What is a mood disorder?
Mood disorders are prevalent in children and teens, but often go undiagnosed. This is often because young people have a harder time expressing themselves and their concerns than adults do. According to Stanford Children’s House, mood disorders continue to be one of the most undiagnosed mental illnesses in young people. Children and teens also experience different symptoms than adults, making their mood disorders harder to diagnose.
Mood disorders are caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, but can also be affected by environmental factors (family, school, stress) and genetics. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, a parent can pass on disorder traits to their child(ren) if mood disorders run in the family.
Mood disorders affect the way a person acts, feels and thinks about themselves and others. Mood disorders are most commonly associated with depression, so if your teen is showing symptoms of depression or anxiety, it is possible they are experiencing a mood disorder.
Examples of Mood Disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Major depression
- Substance-induced (caused by the effects of alcohol and drugs)
- Persistent Depressive disorder
Symptoms
- Low self-esteem
- Guilt
- Difficulty concentrating
- Persistent feeling of sadness
- Inability to sleep
- Hostile/aggressive
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor grades
- Hard time maintaining relationships with friends and family
- Lashing out or violence
Treatment and Management
It is best to consult your doctor if you or your teen are experiencing symptoms of depression or irregular behaviors for an extended period of time. A doctor will be able to diagnose these symptoms, and recommend the best treatment options. Treatment options can include prescribed medication and therapy or counselling.
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