Mood Disorders
If you have a mood disorder, your general emotional state or mood is distorted or inconsistent with your circumstances and interferes with your ability to function. You may be extremely sad, empty or irritable (depressed), or you may have periods of depression alternating with being excessively happy (mania).
Anxiety disorders can also affect your mood and often occur along with depression. Mood disorders may increase your risk of suicide.
Some examples of mood disorders include:
- Major depressive disorder — prolonged and persistent periods of extreme sadness
- Bipolar disorder — also called manic depression or bipolar affective disorder, depression that includes alternating times of depression and mania
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — a form of depression most often associated with fewer hours of daylight in the far northern and southern latitudes from late fall to early spring
- Cyclothymic disorder — a disorder that causes emotional ups and downs that are less extreme than bipolar disorder
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder — mood changes and irritability that occur during the premenstrual phase of a woman’s cycle and go away with the onset of menses
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) — a long-term (chronic) form of depression
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder — a disorder of chronic, severe and persistent irritability in children that often includes frequent temper outbursts that are inconsistent with the child’s developmental age
- Depression related to medical illness — a persistent depressed mood and a significant loss of pleasure in most or all activities that’s directly related to the physical effects of another medical condition
- Depression induced by substance use or medication ― depression symptoms that develop during or soon after substance use or withdrawal or after exposure to a medication
For most people, mood disorders can be successfully treated with medications and talk therapy (psychotherapy).
Source: Mayo Clinic
Types of Mood Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Additional Mood Disorder Resources
Symptoms
- Dissociative Amnesia: This disorder is characterized by a blocking out of critical information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature. Dissociative amnesia, does not result from other medical trauma (e.g., a blow to the head)
- Dissociative Fugue: This is a rare disorder. An individual suddenly and unexpectedly takes physical leave of his or her surroundings and sets off on a journey of some kind. These journeys can last hours, or even several days or months.
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). An individual suffering from DID has more than one distinct identity or personality state that surfaces in the individual on a recurring basis. This disorder is also marked by differences in memory that vary with the individual's 'alters', or other personalities.
- Depersonalization Disorder: A feeling of detachment or distance from one's own experience, body, or self. These feelings of depersonalization are recurrent. An individual with depersonalization disorder has this experience so frequently and so severely that it interrupts his or her functioning and experience.
Individuals may experience variations in symptoms and severity.
Risk Factors
- All the dissociative disorders are thought to stem from trauma experienced by the individual
- Symptoms of these disorders, or even one or more of the disor ders themselves, are also seen in several other mental illnesses, including post - traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive - compulsive disorder
Treatment
Since dissociative disorders seem to be triggered as a response to trauma or abuse, treatment for individuals with such a disorder may stress psychotherapy, although a combination of psychopharmacological and psychosocial treatments is often used. Many of the symptoms of dissociative disorders occur with other disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and can be controlled by the same drugs used to treat those disorders. A person in treatment for a dissociative disorder might benefit from antidepressants or antianxiety medication.
Resources
Men’s Peer Support Group
Online Mixed Peer Support Group
Postpartum Peer Support Group
Women’s Peer Support
Indigenous Talking Circle
Friends and Family Support Group
Youth Peer Support
Mixed Senior’s Tea & Tales
Mixed Coffee and Chat
Mixed Bipolar
Mixed Depression & Anxiety
Young Adult Peer Support Group
Mixed Peer Support Group – Parkland
Soul Sisters
Brandon Men’s Activity Club
Westman Men’s Exchange
Bipolar Peer Support Group
Power To Parent
This group caters to everyone who identifies as men that addresses to all mood disorders diagnosed or undiagnosed and welcomes them to experience support and connection.
IN PERSON
Mondays
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
This group caters to everyone regardless of their age or gender and addresses all mood disorders diagnosed or undiagnosed and welcomes them to experience support and connection.
Our postpartum support group addresses issues and concerns that can come with the birth of a baby, with special emphasis on postpartum depression.
These in-person and online groups for women welcome open, honest and heartfelt connections and conversations. We aim to provide coping techniques, and support for women struggling with their mental health.
IN PERSON
Thursdays
6:45pm to 7;45pm
Facilitator: Asta Carvalho
ONLINE
Thursdays (Cancelled on April 27th)
12:00pm to 1:00pm
Facilitator: Asta
LAUNCH ONLINE MEETING
This group is specifically offered to the Indigenous community and their families. Our aim is to provide support for any diagnosed or undiagnosed mood disorders along with resources in each group.
This group offers support to friends and family to help them deal with mood disorders diagnosed or undiagnosed and welcomes them to experience support and connection.
This online group offers a safe space for youth under 17 years of age where they can come together and chat about their own mental health and seek help for any mood disorders they might be suffering from.
Our Seniors Tea & Tales is all about coming together for afternoon tea or coffee to share experiences and discuss a variety of topics about mental health, or simply to connect with other people in a similar age group!
Location: Our office at 4 Fort Street; Winnipeg
IN PERSON
Tuesdays
1:30pm to 3:30pm
Facilitator: Pam
This in-person group is offered to all in community and their families. We provide an educational component along with resources in each group.
IN PERSON
Tuesdays
5:30pm to 6:30pm
This in-person group is for anyone who is suffering from bipolar diagnosed or undiagnosed and welcomes them to experience support, conversations and connection.
IN PERSON
Tuesdays
6:30 to 7:30pm
This is an in-person group for anyone struggling with depression or anxiety diagnosed or undiagnosed. We welcome you to experience connection and conversation along with support and resources to help you heal.
IN PERSON
Thursdays
6:30pm to 7:30pm
This group is a safe space where youth ages 18-24 come together and chat about their own mental health and what’s going on in their lives. We will cover certain themes every week and at the end of every month we will have an outing while doing peer support. Themes can include Self-care, Support Systems, Advocacy, Transitioning and more.
ON HOLD
This is an online group that meets on Saturdays.
This is a “coffee and conversation” support group for women experiencing mood disorders, low mood, or the frustrations and concerns of Covid-19. It is a group of women helping women through sisterhood and connection. This group does not meet on statutory holidays. (No charge for this group)
To receive the link to this group or for further information, please contact westman@moodmb.ca or call / text Marian at 204-721-2174 or Susan at susans@moodmb.ca
It is a group aimed primarily at men 40+ but those younger are welcome as well. The group fosters socialization and connection amongst men in a workshop setting. This group does not meet on statutory holidays. (No charge for this group.)
To receive the link to this group or for further information, please contact Marian at westman@moodmb.ca or at 204-721-2174
IN PERSON
Wednesdays
12:30 to 2:00 pm
Facilitator: In person at the BNRC Creation Nation Maker Space in Brandon, Manitoba
Join men aged 18+ from Westman area to discuss news about your community, your interests and general connection and camaraderie.
For more information or to register for free, please email at westman@moodmb.ca or call / text 204-721-2174
An online peer support group for those living with bipolar, diagnosed or undiagnosed. Meet and connect with peers in your area on Thursday nights. This group does not meet on statutory holidays. (No charge for this group)
To receive the link to this group or for further information, please email at westman@moodmb.ca or call / text 204-721-2174
Please note: Power to Parent will be taking a hiatus until sometime in the fall season. This is owing to how busy parents are due to the summer holidays.
If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email adassist@moodmb.ca or call/text our Westman office at (204) 721-2174
We apologize for the inconvenience, and look forward to seeing you sometime in the fall!