What’s Up with Feeling Down?
The facts about emotional health and mood disorders
We all go through ups and downs when it comes to our moods. But what’s normal? If your mood is way down or way up for a long period of time, you may have a mood disorder. There are two basic types of mood disorders:
· Depressive disorders- The main warning sign is a feeling of sadness. The kind of depression depends on how long signs last or when these feelings take place.
· Bipolar disorders - A mixture of depression and mania. Depression is the low end of the pole and mania the high end of the pole. Mania is a period of hyperactivity that includes an exaggerated sense of self and optimism.
A frequent situation
Anyone with a serious emotional problem will most likely have depression also. About 20 percent of the people in the U.S. say they have at least one sign of depression in a given month. About 12 percent say they have two or more in a year. Depression also greatly impacts the nation due to use of health care resources and lower productivity in the workplace. Each year, close to 44 million people in the U.S. have a mental health problem. In fact, mental illnesses are among the most widely found problems shaping health today.
Are people born with mood disorders? The answer is yes … and no. Research shows that most serious mental illnesses are caused by brain chemicals that are out of balance. But people’s surroundings can also help or hurt their chances of having a mood disorder. The good news is, even serious mental illnesses can be treated. With the right help, people can lead useful lives.
Facing fear
One of the most feared results of mood problems is suicide — taking one’s life. Suicide is the eleventh cause of death in the U.S.
People may think about taking their own life when they are hopeless and can't find a way to solve problems. Suicide may happen when a person is:
· Badly depressed
· Misusing alcohol or other substances
· Going through a major stressful event
Here are a few warning signs:
· Verbal threats such as “Maybe I won’t be around”
· Taking unusual risks
· Earlier attempts
· Personality changes
· Depression
· Giving away what you have or own
· No interest in future plans
People who have the highest suicide rates are white men. But women and teens report more attempts. If someone talks about killing themselves, you should not ignore it. Urge them to get help from their doctor or the emergency room, or call 911. You can also get help from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in crisis.
Therapy and drugs for either mental illness or substance abuse can help most people who have thoughts of killing themselves.
If you have any signs of a mood disorder, see your doctor, or other health care professional. Most mental illnesses don't get better without help. But if you seek treatment early, you can head off problems before they get bigger.
Sources: Mental Health America; United States Department of Health and Human Services; National Institutes of Health
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Mood Disorders Newsletter Article Page 1 of 2