A “mood disorder” is a mental illness that affects moods.  A mood disorder is a serious condition that disrupts a person’s life because “mood” is an essential brain activity.

Everyone experiences moods.  Moods are made up of a combination of emotions.  Normally, moods are triggered by external events and reflect the nature of the event.  With a normal mood response, people use their emotions to respond to change and stress.

In contrast, a mood disorder is a biochemical condition where the prevailing emotional mood results in impairment.  A mood disorder differs from a normal mood change by its severity, symptoms and duration. There may or may not be a triggering event.  A mood disorder prevents people from adapting their moods or perspectives to respond to situations as needed. People with mood disorders have little control over their moods.

A mood disorder can warp people’s perceptions, distort their views of themselves and the world, drain energy and life potential, and even disrupt essential activities such as eating and sleeping.

Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder are the two most common mood disorders.  Other mood disorders include anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, each of which affect millions of people.