What is a mood disorder, and how does it manifest itself?
When it comes to mental health, the phrase "Mood Disorder" has become somewhat of a catch-all. In actuality, the term "mood disorder" refers to either depression or bipolar disorder, which are two distinct illnesses that can occur simultaneously.
Many individuals refer to feeling depressed as "being depressed," which refers to feeling sad or disappointed. This is a blatantly inaccurate depiction of the situation. Depression is characterized by a long-term shift in one's attitude, outlook, or behavioral patterns. For the most part, normal sadness and disappointment do not last for weeks at a time.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings between exuberant mania and profound depression. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder can suffer from severe consequences, as the euphoric mania stage can result in excessive and irresponsible behavior—for example, spending a large sum of money in an unwise manner or inappropriately interjecting oneself into certain situations—while the major depressive stage can leave a person almost completely incapacitated and, in some cases, result in a suicide attempt.
Being anxious is a very different situation than being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Generalized anxiety refers to the sensation of being emotionally overwhelmed and/or excessively scared, whether this is the case all of the time or only in specific situations. Although the person suffering from anxiety may feel as if they are losing control, an anxious person is unlikely to participate in public displays of irrational or inappropriate behavior, as someone suffering from bipolar disorder would. Interestingly enough, this fear of becoming mentally ill is typically an indication that one is not mentally ill at all, as most people who are truly mentally ill believe that they are normal and healthy, and may even react hostilely to anyone who suggests that they are anything other than normal and healthy.
While it is possible that using the term "mood disorder" when one really means "anxiety" is just a matter of semantics, it is important to distinguish between various emotional and psychological conditions, if for no other reason than to ensure that the proper treatment is administered to the right person at the right time.