If you are anything like me or know someone like me, you didn’t know what a mood disorder was until you were diagnosis. This diagnosis can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. A quick Google search will tell you that 1 in 5 people struggle with their mental health. However, people who don’t struggle with these issues may not notice anything is wrong with someone else, as a mood disorder doesn’t always display physical symptoms.
Those with a mood disorder, can feel their emotions raging an internal battle. With God, family, friends, and proper management of our symptoms, we can live a “normal” life. This post will review 5 steps to help manage a mood disorder.
What is a Mood Disorder?
The National Library of Medicine’s website defines mood disorders in this way. “Mood disorders are described by marked disruptions in emotions (severe lows called depression or highs called hypomania or mania.)”[1] Some common mood disorders include the following: major depressive disorder(MDD), bipolar disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), disruptive mood dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), substance/ medication-induced mood disorder, and a mood disorder due to a general medical condition.
I know the above conditions can be frightening, especially when certain conditions have been stigmatized. Yes, these conditions are serious, but with proper management they don’t have to be.
- Bring your diagnosis to God
I have been on this mental health journey for six years. When I was first diagnosed with depression in 2019, I had to bring it to God. By that, I mean tell Him how you feel. Be honest with God. Ask the tough questions. God isn’t afraid of your questions. I grew up in an environment where mental health was not talked about. But who I didn’t talk to about my mental health was God. When I first began this journey, I knew I had to be honest with God, so I poured out everything I was feeling.
God didn’t judge me or call me a sinner. He loved me. He wasn’t mad at me for getting this diagnosis. Through being honest with God, I found that He wanted to walk beside me though this journey.
Six years later, when I found out my struggle with depression is something more, I knew that God would walk beside me on this journey again. He’d been walking alongside me for six years. I knew he wouldn’t leave me now. God says that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). If God is never changing that means he won’t leave us when we experience a medical diagnosis including a mental health one. Be honest with God, pour your heart out to him, and watch as He walks beside you.
- Journal your moods
Journaling your moods through either a mood journal or writing them down is a great way to notice patterns. If you can discover your mood patterns, you can find triggers or stressors that you may not notice if you don’t write them down. When you determine a pattern, you can share them with your healthcare provider. These findings can help you and your provider work together to personalize your treatment. Finding patterns with a mood disorder can often help to manage the symptoms of the disorder.
You can purchasse a mood journal online at Amazon, the Tik Tok shop, and several other websites.
- Use something weighted
What’s helped me, when I’m having a difficult time dealing with my mood disorder, is using a weighted blanket or other weighted products. When I am having a mood episode, I often need the feeling of an embrace. Using products like a weighted blanket helps me manage my anxiety during these episodes because it mirrors the effects of a touch.
If a person is there to talk to me through an episode, especially during a low, that helps the most, but a mood disorder is a lifelong condition. Sometimes, a person won’t always be there to help me through an episode. During those times, I find using a weighted product helps me feel the comfort of a touch even if no one is there. Again, you can find these products online.
- Prioritize sleep
Sleep is one of the most important things when dealing with a mood disorder. Sleep is important for everyone, not just for people with a mental illness. Sleep is responsible for regulating many aspects of the body. In an article for Psychology Today Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., writes,, “Sleeping on a consistent schedule is one of the healthiest and most important sleep habits to have. . . Consistency helps us avoid piling up sleep debt, and can offer protection against a range of health conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.”[2]
If it’s important for people who do not have a mood disorder to get proper sleep, then it’s even more critical for people who have a mood disorder. Breus writes, “Circadian rhythms affect mood in numerous and complex ways. Genes that control circadian rhythms . . . have been shown to regulate mood and mood-related behavior, including behaviors associated with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.”[3]
Just because a person has a mood disorder doesn’t mean they necessarily have bipolar disorder, but this article does emphasize the importance of sleep for someone who has a mood disorder. What helps me get consistent sleep is having a routine and sticking to it. Find a relaxing routine that works best for you and fit it into your nighttime schedule. Having a consistent sleep schedule will make managing the symptoms of a mood disorder a little easier.
- Don’t be afraid to talk about it
Before I was diagnosed with a mood disorder, I noticed symptoms. Somedays I would feel off, and I didn’t know why. Instead of talking to my friends or family about how I felt, I hid how I felt and “pushed” through. It took missing an entire week of college to notice that what I was feeling wasn’t simply me being tired. However, once I reached the point where I knew I needed help, I was apprehensive to lean on anyone. Even though I knew God put certain people in my life to help me, I still didn’t want to talk about my condition.
When I finally opened up, I found many people I knew wanted to help me. However, they didn’t know how until I told them what I was struggling with. Having the support of others on my mental health journey has been one of the best coping mechanisms I have found that helps me manage my mood disorder. It’s okay to bring your struggles to your friends and family. It’s okay to be vulnerable with those you trust. You’re not broken for having a mental illness, and it’s okay to lean on others when you can’t stand on your own .
Conclusion
Even with this list, not every day is perfect. I still have good and bad days. My condition will most likely be life long, and I still have not figured out what type of mood disorder I have. But I’m not scared of my condition anymore. As humans, we live in a fallen state. My brain is a part of my body, so it makes sense that my brain doesn’t work like it should sometimes. But we live in a day and age where God can use modern medicine to help us, and there is nothing wrong with using the tools God has given us. That being said, if you feel like you may be experiencing symptoms of a mood disorder, please speak with a healthcare professional. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it.
Author Bio
Gabriel Cannon is a senior in college with a writing major. He’s always had a love for books, but it wasn’t until his family experienced a personal tragedy when he was twelve that words became important to him. Now, words encompass almost every aspect of his life. When not writing he is likely spending time with his loved ones, drinking coffee, or reading anything he can get his hands on. Gabriel hopes to use his writing in the future to discuss difficult topics in the church and to share the love of Christ wherever he goes.
[1] Sandeep Sekhon and Vikas Gupta, “National Center for Biotechnology Information” National Library of Medicine, last modified May 8, 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558911/
[2] Michael J. Breus, “The Mood Benefits of Sticking to a Regular Sleep Schedule,” Psychology Today, March 28, 2021, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/202103/the-mood-benefits-sticking-regular-sleep-schedule
[3] Michael J. Breus, “The Mood Benefits of Sticking to a Regular Sleep Schedule,” Psychology Today, March 28, 2021, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/202103/the-mood-benefits-sticking-regular-sleep-schedule
For particular mood disorders like bipolar and schizoaffective, it is imperative we are seen by a psychiatrist to find a good medication dosage. Without my antidepressant and mood stabilizer, I spent be here. This can be the case for many major depressive diagnoses as well.
There’s evidence that many of us with these disorders successfully treat our symptoms with medications like antidepressants and mood stabilizers. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for my pharmaceutical prescription of Abilify and Welbutrin. This is evidence based, along with talk therapy, for those of us who suffer from these types of diagnoses. Please don’t forget how important psychotropics are in these cases.