Coupling Medical Treatments and Psychotherapy for Mood Disorders

It’s natural to experience mood changes or fluctuations from time to time. Moods and feelings are not meant to stay constant; they will change. When fluctuations are intense and rapid on a consistent basis, however, there may be something more going on. Extreme mood changes are often a symptom of a mood disorder. Mood disorders can range in symptom presentation and severity, though they rarely improve on their own. These changes can be frightening but you are not alone, counseling can help.

While counseling can be of great help in treating mood disorders, often best practice approaches include medication management as well. Everyone is different, consulting with a psychiatrist can be helpful in order to assess whether medications may be right for you in conjunction with therapy. Proper treatment tailored to your unique needs can help you to find symptom remission much quicker.

The Optimal Treatment Approach

Research shows that medical intervention coupled with effective counseling can significantly improve symptoms of a mood disorder. Therapy can help you to identify triggers and improve coping skills while medication can target any physical factors that are contributing to your symptoms. Studies revealed that medications are effective in treating mood disorders and when paired with counseling improvements are even greater. Whether you choose to begin with therapy or medication management, it may be a good idea to use a more combined approach.

What are Mood Disorder Symptoms?

Some common symptoms of mood disorders include restlessness, loss of interest and enjoyment in usual activities, sad mood, mood changes between sadness and extreme happiness, appetite changes, sleep disturbance, excessive risk taking, fatigue, restlessness etc.

Left untreated you may begin to notice other symptoms such as unexplained pain and gastrointestinal distress. Extreme mood changes can also interfere with your daily activities, job and relationships. As symptoms worsen you may even begin to experience thoughts of harming yourself, others and/or suicide.

The Need for Help

Many individuals experience symptoms of mood disorders but wait until their symptoms become unmanageable before intervening. If you have ignored your symptoms in the past, it is not too late to seek help.

Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC contracts with independent, licensed therapists who know how to treat mood disorder symptoms. Together, you can find relief and move forward to a brighter future. Recovery is possible, therapy can help. Call today to schedule your first appointment.

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