Handling Mood Changes as We Age

If you or someone you know has thoughts of death or suicide, contact a health care provider, clergy member, loved one, friend or crisis line such as 1-800-273-TALK, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately.

What If I have More/Different Symptoms Than Those Above?

If the symptoms above come close but don’t exactly jibe with your experiences, it’s possible you may have either dysthymia or bi-polar disorder.

Dysthymia can be thought of as a milder form of depression. Like clinical depression, dysthymia causes people to struggle with decision-making, concentration, low self- esteem and fatigue. Because the symptoms don’t impact your life as drastically as clinical depression, you may have let yourself go years feeling less than optimal, thinking you’d feel better when something in your life has changed. Many medications treat dysthymia effectively.

People with Bipolar Disorder exhibit many of the symptoms of clinical depression, but they also swing to a highly excited, irritated or energized state, often called mania. Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, can be treated with a number of therapies, including medication and talk therapy.

Could I Have Bipolar Disorder?

Have you had debilitating periods of sadness, followed by periods of high excitement and activity? Do you find yourself dressing, speaking or exercising in extreme ways? Below, you’ll find a list of typical behaviors exhibited by those with bipolar disorder. If you have been exceptionally excited or active for a week at a time and check three of the symptoms below, talk with your healthcare provider about bipolar disorder.

• Exaggerated optimism and self-confidence

• An inflated perspective about your abilities and qualities

• Racing thoughts

• Brisk, speech

• Impulsive behavior

• Bad decision-making

• Reckless behavior:

  o Shopping sprees
  o irresponsible driving choices o rash business decisions
  o sexual promiscuity

• Experiencing delusions (holding untrue beliefs) and hallucinations (seeing and/or hearing things that aren’t there).

I Might Have a Mood Disorder. What Should I Do First?

Only a healthcare provider can accurately diagnose depression, dysthymia or bipolar disorder. You can contact your insurance carrier to find affiliate doctors in your area. Keep your symptoms checklist with you so you can easily explain what’s been happening.

Once You Have a Diagnosis . . .

Work together with your healthcare providers, regarding them as partners. They are medical professionals who see mood disorders for the chemical imbalances they are. Their challenge lies in how to get your body chemistry to ideal levels so that you can live your life to the fullest. They do not judge you for exhibiting the typical symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder. If you have more than one healthcare provider, make all necessary arrangements to enable these professionals to share information about you.

Since mood disorders tend to tailor-make their symptoms to each individual, it’s important that you become an expert in your own care. Further, becoming an expert in your care helps you feel in control and more self-confident. It’s also interesting to read up on these issues! You can become proactive in your treatment. Take charge of your treatment in the following ways:

• Read and research so you can understand as much about your condition as possible.

• Write down your medication(s), their dosage(s) and what to do if you forget a dose in each case.

• Write down all contact information for your healthcare providers as well as the contact people the provider has set up in case he or she cannot be reached.

• Find out how your medications may interact with each other and with medications you’re taking for other issues.

• Learn about any side effects of your medications and be on the look-out for them.

• Learn about how any of your medications will affect medical conditions not related to mood.

• Explore the non-medical treatments that may improve your condition. Exercise, diet changes, social involvement, healthy sleep patterns all contribute to mood.

• Know if psychotherapy can help your treatment.

Be aware of typical problems those undergoing treatment experience.

What Kinds of Treatments Are Available?If you’ve been diagnosed with depression, dysthymia or bipolar disorder, professionals on three fronts, from three different directions, stand ready to help. The medical establishment, psychotherapists and experienced support group organizers all address different aspects of life with a mood disorder. Typically, treatment plans are tailor-made for each individual, depending on the symptoms they’re exhibiting, their family situation and their financial means.

Psychotherapy: Support and New Perspectives

Psychotherapy or “talk therapy” can help anyone struggling with a mood disorder. First, a good psychotherapist can help you understand and handle the feelings and stresses that may surround your treatment. They can explain coping skills the others with mood disorders use successfully. Psychotherapy has proven to be very effective, particularly when used in combination with medication. Most notably, some with mild or moderate depression have recovered completely in the hands of a competent therapist, even without any medication at all.

Therapists come in many forms. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, therapists, counselors, nurses and other health professionals can help you talk through your feelings. Therapists use many different approaches. They examine your behavior patterns or how your thoughts and emotions contribute to your illness. They also discuss your family of origin with you. Your therapist may recommend that you involve your family in your therapy or treatment. Since researchers agree that depression runs in families, letting others know what you’re doing may lead to more healing and self-awareness among your parents, siblings and children.

As with medication, you may have to try several forms of therapy or even several therapists before you feel comfortable in talk therapy. One therapy style that works wonders for you may have no effect on someone else. The same is true of therapists. The therapist your girlfriend considers a genius may turn you off completely. Those that stick with the search process gain a great deal when they find the professional that understands them.

Support Groups: Connecting with and Learning from Others Like You Like psychotherapy, support groups address aspects of the disorder that medication often can’t reach. One of the hardest parts of receiving a mood disorder diagnosis is the feeling that you’re odd or abnormal, utterly alone. Support groups normalize mood disorders and bring mood up (researchers have proven) as only social networks can do.

How Can a Support Group Help Me?

Creating a social network of others who understand your experiences benefits you in many ways. Support group members share coping skills, feelings of shame and embarrassment, treatment strategies and other important information. Every one of these members felt self-conscious and apprehensive upon arriving at their first meeting. These feelings eventually evaporate when they realize every one is there to support one another.

At first, the groups may seem mixed in age and background. After a while, you may meet others who would like to start a group just for older adults. You can tailor it to your needs by having meetings earlier in the day or by making it handicapped accessible. All support groups are confidential and free of charge. The mission of support groups is to: