Mood Disorder Treatment

Mood Disorder Treatment in Worcester

A mood disorder is far more serious than mood swings. While moods usually shift with events and pass in hours or days, a mood disorder leaves you feeling disconnected and unable to “snap out of it,” affecting your life, career, and relationships.

It can feel like a constant battle with your own emotions, but there’s hope. Mood disorders are treatable with medication (e.g., antidepressants like SSRI, lithium, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers), therapy, and support.

At Blue Hills Recovery, we offer personalized care to help you regain stability and take control of your mental health. Read on to learn more about mood disorders and how we can help.

What are Mood Disorders?

A mood disorder is a mental health condition that causes marked disruptions in a person’s emotions. It involves extended periods of severe lows (depression), highs (mania), or both.

Having a mood disorder can negatively affect your ability to function normally, causing significant consequences in work, daily life, and relationships.

Mood disorders can leave people feeling misunderstood and out of control. At Blue Hills, we’re here to support you.

We’ll help you build the skills to manage stress, develop healthy coping strategies, and address negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, so you can live a fulfilling, productive life — unhindered by your condition.

What Causes Mood Disorders?

The exact cause of mood disorders is unclear, but it appears to be due to an interaction between different factors. They tend to run in families.

Brain chemical imbalances and adverse stressful life events also play a role. Certain conditions and medications can also cause mood disorders.

Certain circumstances also put you at a higher risk of developing a mood disorder.

Risk Factors for Mood Disorders

While there is no single cause of mood disorders, several risk factors contribute to a greater chance of having a mood disorder:

• Having a family history of mood disorder or other mental illness
• Having particular genes or abnormal brain structure
• Trauma or stressful life events
• Adverse childhood experiences, like abuse, violence, and neglect

Who is Affected by Mood Disorders?

Nearly one in 10 adults (18 and older) have a mood disorder. Here are other relevant statistics on mood disorder rates in the United States:

• One in five U.S. adults experience any mood disorder at some point in their lives.
• 9.7% of U.S. adults had any mood disorder in the past year.
• Mood disorder in adults is higher for females (11.6%) than males (7.7%).
• Around 15% of children and adolescents have a mood disorder, and 12% have a mood disorder with severe impairment.

Signs & Symptoms of Mood Disorders

How a mood disorder presents depends on a person’s age and type of mood disorder.

Here are the most common symptoms:

• Prolonged sadness
• Racing thoughts
• Changes in sleep and appetite
• Significant weight changes
• Anger, irritability, agitation, and anxiety
• Loss of energy
• Indecisiveness
• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
• Poor concentration
• Lack of interest in activities formerly enjoyed
• Unexplained physical complaints (e.g., headache) that don’t go away with treatment
• Suicidal thoughts

Types of Mood Disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) categorizes mood disorders into depressive and bipolar disorders.

Here are the conditions under depressive disorders:

Major Depression

Major depressive disorder involves persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities that used to be pleasurable, and other symptoms of depression that significantly impact daily life for at least two weeks.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder) is a long-term, low-grade depressive or irritable mood that lasts for at least two years in adults or one year in children.

The following conditions are also depressive disorders:

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Postpartum depression
• Seasonal affective disorder

Bipolar Disorders

A person with bipolar I disorder has alternating periods of mania and depression. A manic episode is when you have excessive elation, confidence, high energy levels, or activity significantly out of proportion to the situation for at least a week. It may also have psychosis.

Types of bipolar disorders include:

• Bipolar II disorder: similar to bipolar I, but mood changes are only hypomanic (hypomania: shorter duration than mania) and depressive episodes.
• Cyclothymia/cyclothymic disorder: mild form of bipolar disorder

Substance-Induced Mood Disorders

A person may experience mood symptoms during or soon after substance use, substance withdrawal, or as a side effect of taking a medication.

What Happens When a Mood Disorder Goes Untreated?

When you don’t get treatment for mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder, they often get worse. Symptoms can last from weeks to years, which will ultimately affect your quality of life.

Studies show that patients who delay treatment exhibit a more severe disorder, with more episodes, more days depressed, more rapid mood shifts, and fewer days in a stable emotional state.

Additionally, a longer duration of illness is associated with worse outcomes, especially in terms of self-harm, suicide, and developing substance use disorders. It can also lead to other conditions like anxiety disorders.

Mood Disorder Treatment in Worcester, Massachusetts

Different treatment options are available for mood disorders, but the most effective approach typically combines medication with psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and group therapy.

Brain stimulation therapy, including transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are also effective for mood disorders, especially for treatment-resistant depression.

With the right treatment plan, you can reclaim a full, productive, and stable life. Our specially trained healthcare providers at Blue Hills Recovery can help you choose the best plan based on your needs, preferences, and overall health.

Mental Health Recovery Programs

Blue Hills Recovery’s mental health treatment programs are designed to be given at progressive levels to build the foundation you need for lasting recovery.

• Day treatment program: This program provides full-day care similar to an inpatient program but allows you to sleep at home. It’s ideal for those needing more support than outpatient care but not constant monitoring.
• Evening treatment program: After completing our day program, clients often transition to the evening program, spending several hours at the facility several days a week. This helps you gradually return to daily life while still receiving guidance and support from the program

Dual Diagnosis Care

Nearly one in three people with mood disorders have a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD).

As a leading mental health and addiction treatment center in Massachusetts, Blue Hills Recovery understands that treating both conditions is crucial for lasting recovery.

With Blue Hills, you get access to dual diagnosis treatment programs that address mental health and addiction recovery needs and your medical conditions, ensuring a well-rounded approach to your healing journey.

Therapies & Counseling

Mental health professionals at Blue Hills Recovery offer a wide range of therapy programs proven to be effective in treating mood disorders. These therapies include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): an evidence-based approach that helps you reframe negative thoughts and behaviors, guiding you toward better emotional balance and control over your mood.
• Individual therapy: one-on-one sessions with a therapist designed to explore personal struggles and develop strategies to manage your condition and enhance emotional health.
• Group therapy: a supportive environment where individuals with similar mood disorders share experiences and learn coping strategies together under the guidance of a therapist.
• 12-step facilitation therapy: recovery approach that encourages individuals with mood disorders and substance use issues to follow the 12-step principles for long-term healing.
• Family counseling: Therapy aimed at improving communication and relationships within family members affected by mood disorders, helping foster a supportive home environment.
• Mindfulness meditation: A practice that teaches individuals with mood disorders to focus on the present moment, reducing stress and improving emotional regulation.

Continuing Care

A continuing care plan is essential to mental health recovery, serving as a guardrail on your path to lasting wellness. It addresses the unique challenges you’ll face after treatment, promoting stability, helping you recognize and avoid triggers, providing ongoing support, and fostering accountability.

At Blue Hills Recovery, you can continue your journey through personalized one-on-one follow-ups with our therapists, group therapy sessions, and wellness programs or workshops designed to keep you on track.

Get Expert Care for a Mood Disorder at Blue Hills Recovery

Having a mood disorder can feel like you’re out of sync with your own emotions, taking a serious toll on your life and those around you. Getting help quickly is crucial to prevent symptoms from worsening and to improve your overall well-being.

At Blue Hills Recovery, we understand the complexity of mood disorders, but we also know that the right balance of therapy and support can make all the difference in helping you achieve a stable, fulfilling life.Take the first step toward healing — reach out to Blue Hills Recovery today and let us help you regain control of your mental health and your future.

Mood Disorder Treatment in Worcester FAQs

How do I know if a loved one has a mood disorder?

A loved one may have a mood disorder if they show significant emotional changes, such as persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, feelings of worthlessness, or other symptoms. These symptoms are intense or last long enough to disrupt their life.

At what age do mood disorders often begin?

The age of onset varies depending on the type of mood disorder. Bipolar I often starts around age 18, while Bipolar II tends to begin a bit later, typically in the mid-20s. Major depressive disorder can occur at any age, but the risk increases during puberty and peaks in the 20s.

Can mood disorders lead to long term health risks?

Yes, mood disorders can increase your chances of having a range of diseases like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, obesity, substance use disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Sources

1. Health Direct. “Bipolar disorder”. Retrieved from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bipolar-disorder. Accessed on August 6, 2025.
2. Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Mood Disorders”. Retrieved from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/mood-disorders. Accessed on August 6, 2025.
3. Medline Plus. “Mood Disorders”. Retrieved from: https://medlineplus.gov/mooddisorders.html. Accessed on August 6, 2025.
4. National Institute of Mental Health. “Any Mood Disorder”. Retrieved from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-mood-disorder. Accessed on August 6, 2025.
5. National Institute of Mental Health. “Understanding the Link Between Chronic Disease and Depression”. Retrieved from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health. Accessed on August 6, 2025.
6. National Library of Medicine. “Bipolar Disorder”. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558998/. Accessed on August 6, 2025.
7. National Library of Medicine. “Major Depressive Disorder”. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559078/. Accessed on August 6, 2025.
8. National Library of Medicine. “Mood disorder”. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558911/. Accessed on August 6, 2025.
9. PubMed Central. “Mood Disorders and Substance Use Disorder: A Complex Comorbidity”. Retrieved from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2851027/. Accessed on August 6, 2025.