Steps from the Red Line
Mood Disorder Treatment in Cambridge
Are you struggling to keep up with your work, school, or home responsibilities because of a mood disorder? You are definitely not alone. Mood disorders can impact your life significantly, causing symptoms that can be hard to manage while maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle.
That is where we come in. At Cambridge Mental Health, we offer psychiatric day treatment* services for mood disorders, focusing specifically on evidence-based treatments and holistic practices to help people manage their symptoms and learn to live without the restraints of poor mental health. We have a team of professional psychiatrists who are trained and highly experienced, and they will deliver a tailored plan to suit your exact needs. If it sounds like something that would benefit your life, get in touch.
About Mood Disorders
Mood disorders refer to specific mental health conditions that impact a person’s ability to function properly in their everyday lives. Mood disorders can significantly impact an individual’s relationships, finances, sleep, work life, and much more. They lead to extreme emotional responses, which can in turn create unpleasant circumstances for the sufferer and their loved ones.
Here, we will discuss all the mood disorders we can treat here at Cambridge Mental Health.
Types of Mood Disorders
Several disorders fall under the mood disorder umbrella. These mood disorders include:
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder, also known as clinical or severe depression, is a serious mental health condition that causes persistent sadness and a feeling of hopelessness. Someone with major depression will often withdraw from their loved ones and not partake in hobbies and activities they were previously interested in.
There is also mild depression, which showcases similar symptoms to major depressive disorder, except they aren’t as severe and they may not last as long.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder (or manic depression) is another serious mental health condition. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood shifts, with individuals experiencing hypomanic or manic episodes.
Bipolar i: Bipolar i is when a person experiences at least one very severe manic episode, often leading to hospitalization. They will also have depressive episodes.
Bipolar ii: Bipolar ii disorder is when a person experiences at least one extremely depressive episode and one hypomanic episode. Manic episodes are not present in people with bipolar ii.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
Persistent depressive disorder, or dysthymia, is another type of depression. While the symptoms are not as severe as those of major depressive disorder, the problem here is that it lasts a very long time. The person may experience a persistently low mood for many years.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is a very common occurrence caused by the changing hormones leading up to a person’s period. During this time, they may experience symptoms like irritability, mood swings, and anxiety.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is like an extreme version of PMS. The symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder include:
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Loss of Interest in Activities
- Extreme Distress
- Extreme Mood Changes
- Physical Symptoms (such as headaches and muscle pains)
It significantly impacts the individual’s life during this period.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a serious form of depression that specifically occurs after childbirth. After this point, the mother experiences severe depressive symptoms, such as feeling sad, hopeless, guilty, panicked, and very tired. It is extremely hard for mothers to go through, as it happens during a time when they are responsible for looking after a baby. As such, they must seek the help they need as soon as possible. It’s also worth pointing out that postpartum depression doesn’t always only happen to the mother – it can also happen to the father and any other caregiver.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Disruptive dysregulation disorder, or DMDD, is a mental health condition that specifically targets children and adolescents. Individuals with DMDD will often show symptoms such as frequent anger outbursts, irritability, and aggression. It’s a serious condition that affects a child’s ability to perform well in school and maintain a positive home life.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that only occurs during particular seasons. It’s often referred to as the winter blues, as it usually hits during the autumn and winter months due to a lack of daylight. To treat depression caused by the lack of sunlight, treatments include light therapy.
What Causes Mood Disorders?
Anyone can develop mood disorders like bipolar disorder and clinical depression, but there are some major risk factors.
Genetic Factors: There are many genetic factors at play when it comes to bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. That means that people with family members with mood disorders are more likely to have one themselves.
Biological Factors: Additionally, there are biological factors. For example, problems with the neurotransmitters can affect serotonin and dopamine production, causing mood disorders.
Environmental Factors: Then, there are environmental factors. Things like trauma, abuse, and particularly stressful events in life may contribute to the development of a mood disorder.
Do We Treat Other Medical Conditions?
Yes – it’s not just mood disorders like bipolar disorder ii or bipolar disorder ii that we treat. Treating mood disorders is a big part of what we do, but we also cover other mental health conditions, such as lifetime anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, chronic stress, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorder.
If you want to know whether our mental health professionals can help you with our outpatient treatment program, simply get in touch.
What to Expect from Our Care
Are you wondering what might happen if you choose our care in Cambridge, Massachusetts? Here is what to expect.
Talk Therapy
One of the biggest ways we help people with mood disorders like bipolar disorder and major depression is with talk therapies.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy: One of the talk therapies we offer is Cognitive Behavior Therapy. This is a science-backed and highly effective talk therapy that focuses on improving your habits and lifestyle. It allows you to examine your patterns of thought and behavior and teaches you how to adapt and avoid negative patterns. Here at Cambridge Mental Health, we offer specific mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which helps you reconnect with your emotions.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: Dialectical behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy specifically for those who experience extreme emotions, like many people with mood disorders (like bipolar disorder) do. It is all about teaching you how to manage those intense emotions and avoid self-destructive behaviors going forward.
We also offer both group therapy and family therapy.
Excellent Mental Health Professionals
We are proud to say that a team of incredible mental health professionals runs our Cambridge clinic. Each one is highly trained and able to help you through your mood disorder symptoms. They are caring, compassionate, and will provide the care you need every step of the way.
Medication Management
It can be hard for individuals with mood disorders to manage their own medications. That’s why, with our outpatient treatment program, we offer medication management services. We can prescribe medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or mood stabilizers if necessary for you and your treatment plan. We can also ensure you take your medication at the right time every day.
Is Our Treatment Right for You?
Are you wondering if our treatment is right for you? Here is how to know.
Your Mood Disorder Affects Your Daily Life: Do you have a mood disorder that makes it hard to commit to everyday life? Perhaps it is getting in the way of you handing in assignments at university. Or, maybe you aren’t able to show up to work every day because your emotions are getting in the way. If this happens, it’s clear that your mood disorder is having a major impact on your success, and you should seek treatment.
You Have Tried Other Treatments: Our psychiatric day treatment* program is a fully fledged program that takes a holistic approach. If you have tried other methods before and they have not made a significant difference, this is likely the path you want to pursue, as it incorporates a blend of medications, therapies, and lifestyle adjustments.
Loved Ones Have Expressed Concern: If your loved ones are worried about you, that’s a clear sign you need some kind of therapeutic intervention. Our care can be just that. We specialize in mood disorders, offering science backed new treatments to help you recover from the worst of the symptoms.
Seek Treatment Today
Do not let a mood disorder get in the way of you being successful, happy, and fulfilled. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and our patient care can help guide you towards that.
Whether you are struggling with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, postpartum depression, or any other kind of mood disorder, we are here to offer high-quality treatment that actually works. If you are ready to take back control of your life, get in touch with our helpful team today. We look forward to helping you on your journey of healing.