Mood Disorders
Clients who are experiencing mood disorders alternate between periods of very low and significantly elevated moods. Sometimes these behavioral mood changes are abrupt and can significantly affect work and personal relationships and lifestyle. People with mood disorders experience the condition in different ways. Clients may turn to substance use to cope, which sets up a co-occurring disorder. As a result, they often self-isolate as they fear they may not be able to control their potentially abrupt mood changes. Without proper treatment and medication when indicated, clients may suffer needlessly for long periods of time.
We evaluate and treat all types of mood issues at Headwaters. Mood disorder symptoms include:
- Guilt
- Changes in appetite (such as overeating or undereating)
- Excessive pessimism or worry
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Difficulty concentrating
- Suicidal thoughts
Mental Health Disorders
Types of Mood Disorders
Here are a few of the most common mood disorders our Headwaters clients face:
Major Depression
Most people with this mood disorder experience their first major depressive episode in their mid-20s. Major depressive disorder is characterized by a period of two weeks or more of experiencing low self-esteem, fatigue, persistent sadness, hopelessness, irritability, anger, and decreased interest in activities for two weeks or more. In general, the earlier you experience an episode of major depression, the more long-lasting and severe the mood disorder tends to be in adulthood.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder (or manic depression) is characterized by alternating periods of depression and elevated mood (also known as mania). The mania can be extreme to a level that it impairs the client’s ability to navigate reality or understand the consequences of their behavior. In a manic episode, the client may have high energy, exaggerated self-confidence, racing thoughts, impulsive or reckless behavior, and a decreased need for sleep. Likewise, the episodes of depressed mood can be equally extreme, with little to no interest in activities that previously brought joy. Medication management for clients with bipolar disorder is key.
Dysthymia
A persistent, milder form of depression is known as dysthymia. People with this mood disorder describe low-grade depression symptoms that last for at least one year.
Substance-induced Mood Disorders
Substance abuse can also lead to symptoms of depression. For example, withdrawing from addictive drugs like heroin and various methamphetamines can cause depressive symptoms.
Mood Disorder Treatment
For people with co-occurring disorders, a comprehensive treatment plan should include:
- Evidence-based therapies
- Case management
- Family education and programming
- Life skills training
- Continuing care planning
- Medical care (including appropriate medication management)
- Ongoing psychiatric services and care
Every client recovering from substance use and co-occurring mood disorders deserves a treatment plan tailored to their individual needs. Headwaters will design a personal treatment plan with the healing of your body, mind, and spirit at its core. Each client undergoes comprehensive behavioral health assessments to ensure that all co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health disorders are diagnosed and treated.
By utilizing clinical interviews and sessions with primary therapists, each client will receive a detailed assessment to tailor treatment plans to meet your unique lifestyle, goals, and needs.
Medication
Medication management can greatly influence the daily management of mood disorders. Headwaters’ physicians, psychiatrists, and highly trained medical staff will discuss your goals and help you identify the right balance of carefully prescribed medications and clinical therapy.
Since you may have used substances for years to self-regulate your mood disorder, it will take time for your body to adjust specific medications. Some common pharmacological interventions for mood conditions include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Mood-stabilizing medications for bipolar disorder
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Headwaters Center for Brain Recovery
Co-occurring mood disorders can exacerbate and influence each other, which makes successful treatment more challenging. The Headwaters Center for Brain Recovery (CBR) is an innovative program that provides specialized, evidence-based therapy treatments to address brain health. We address the connection between the disease addiction and co-occurring disorders and offer treatment to simultaneously address both conditions, providing our clients with a better chance for long-lasting recovery.
We also provide intensive psychological testing through our Headwaters Center for Brain Recovery. We offer tests such as:
- Personality Inventory for DSM-5—Brief Form (PID-5-BF)
- Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNS VS)
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2)
- Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI)
Therapies
At Headwaters, our licensed therapists use proven techniques to help clients with mood disorders stabilize their daily life. Evidence-based therapies include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Interpersonal therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Trauma-focused therapy
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Positive Lifestyle Changes
Healthy lifestyle changes can also help regulate mood disorder symptoms. Examples include:
- Yoga practice
- Regular exercise
- Mindfulness meditation
- Good sleep hygiene practices
- Healthy social interaction
- A balanced, nutritious diet
Recovery is Possible
At Headwaters, we recognize that the connection between mood disorders and substance use is highly connected. Through medication management and therapeutic intervention, psychological, physical, and spiritual recovery is possible. Call Headwaters today and let’s talk about beginning your journey to wellness: 561.270.1753.
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
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