Depression /
Mood Disorders

WHAT ARE MOOD DISORDERS?

Mood disorders are a category of mental health conditions that affect the way we feel, think, and interact with the world. Mood disorders can cause people to feel depressed, feel sad for an extended period of time, or can involve extreme changes in moods. These mood disturbances disrupt a person’s ability to function and engage in regular life activities.

Mood disorder symptoms can include feeling hopeless, helpless, sad, or having low or no interest in every day activities. Some people experience low self-esteem, excessive guilt, or have difficulty sleeping. Other people experience extremely elevated and excitable mood, racing thoughts, and engage in impulsive decision-making. Mood disorders can affect people of all ages, but tend to be more common in women.

When should I seek help?

It is normal to feel sad at times or have emotions that can change quickly. However, if these emotional states feel very intense, last for a long time, and/or interfere with your ability to function in your day-to-day life, it may be a sign that more support is required. At the Firestone CBT Clinic, we help clients to recognize concerns related to their mood and address these in ways that bring about relief. We address a range of conditions involving mood, including normal feelings of sadness related to challenging life events or loss, as well as mood disorders, which can be more debilitating.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

This disorder is commonly known as “clinical depression” and describes a state of feeling sad for a prolonged period of time and/or losing pleasure in activities previously enjoyed. Other symptoms can include feeling irritable, hopeless, guilty, or a sense of worthlessness. Depression can also affect one's ability to concentrate and make decisions, cause sleep disturbance and affect one’s appetite.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder involves abnormal, extreme mood swings, from depressive episodes (lows) to manic episodes (highs) and is associated with significant changes in energy, thinking, and behaviour. Manic episodes usually involve intense feelings of euphoria and excitement, and can include excessive energy, restlessness, insomnia, rapid speech, racing thoughts, and impulsive decision making. Depressive episodes are marked by similar symptoms to depression. These shifts in mood interfere with day-to-day functioning and make it difficult to maintain a job or relationships.

Also called dysthymic disorder, dysthymia is similar to depression in terms of symptoms, but the symptoms are generally milder yet last longer. 

Dysthymia 

What are the different types of mood disorders? 

Cognitive Interventions in CBT 

Cognitive interventions involve learning how to examine unhelpful thoughts and beliefs and developing skills to work with these in a more functional manner. Various strategies can be used to accomplish this including cognitive restructuring or thought challenging, as well as various acceptance and mindfulness strategies.

Behavioural Interventions in CBT 

Behavioural strategies for working with mood concerns include behavioural activation, exposure therapy, learning new coping skills, relaxation and mindfulness strategies as well as many other interventions.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Mood Disorders

Cogntive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological therapy that is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including mood disorders. CBT aims to change maladaptive emotional responses by altering unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. It is typically a short-term treatment and involves helping people break out of the vicious cycle of thinking and behaving that maintains mood disturbance. It has been shown to be highly effective for treating depression and as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment for bipolar disorder. 

How is CBT different than other approaches?

CBT is different than other therapeutic approaches in its emphasis on the ways that a person’s cognitions, emotions and behaviours are linked. Unhelpful emotions are related to our perception of ourselves, others and the world, and how we behave in accordance with these beliefs. CBT practitioners help clients uncover their unhelpful beliefs and behaviours and work on overriding these when they are not functional. 

How many CBT sessions are required? 

The number of sessions of CBT required vary from person to person. A typical course of therapy is somewhere between 8 to 20 weekly sessions. The Clinical Director at the Firestone CBT Clinic will assess you during your first meeting and make a recommendation about the number of sessions for your specific concerns. Then, you and your therapist will decide together if more or fewer sessions are required.