Basic Terms in Mood Disorders

Before describing mood disorders, it is important to understand the difference between feelings, emotions and mood. When one is sad for one reason or another, and this lasts some days his feeling is surrounded by sorrow and sadness. This is a normal reaction.

If this feeling is present for more than two weeks, then we are inclined to suggest that this could be a mood disorders, with higher stakes on depression. As the situation worsens, the patient’s energy and aspirations decline and eventually he isolates himself from friends and family.

Bearing in mind the Ancient Greek quote ” All in moderation”, mood disorders could not be an exception to the rule. Thus, mood disorders are divided into three categories: 1) Those that the patient experiences ” Intense grief ” 2) Those the patient feels ” Intense Joy” (but without any cause or have any illicit substance) and 3) Disorders whose symptoms are similar to the previous two, but the symptoms are more subtle, milder and chronic.

The main representative of the first category is “Depression”. A mental condition, that the patient may appear in sorrow, sad, depressed (more than 2 weeks).  The patient may struggle to perform his day to day activities, may feel anxious, unhappy or unwilling to have sexual intercourse, has appetite disorders (overeating or refusal to eat, sleeping disorders, self-esteem, self-esteem, self-esteem, self-esteem).

Another pathway that could lead to depression is the loss of a beloved person. At first could this leads to grief,  which is a normal human response. If grief is unbearable and lasts more than six to eight months, then again this can become complicated or could lead to depression.