Mood Disorders/Dysregulation
"I just don't enjoy things the way that I used to."
"I feel down all the time. The littlest thing can make me feel like crying."
"I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster. Sometimes I feel completely fine, and other times I feel so sad or angry that I can't stand it. Am I crazy?"
Persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness can be a sign of a depressive disorder, particularly when accompanied by loss of interest in typically enjoyed activities, weight or appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, low energy, feelings of worthlessness, and/or thoughts of death or suicide.
Alternatively, you may experience some of these mood symptoms, but they don't linger for that long. It may feel like your moods are out of control - sometimes you feel completely fine, and then other times you feel seized by sadness, anger, fear, or despair. You feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster and you are ready to get off. If this sounds like you, then you may struggle with emotion dysregulation.
Approach to Treatment
Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy is an important and effective component of treatment for depressive disorders and mood dysregulation.
For clients with depressive disorders, I offer CBT that focuses on overcoming behavioral patterns that may be inadvertently reinforcing depressive symptoms. I work with clients to identify how their thoughts are influencing their mood and teach them skills to actively challenge or let go of unhelpful thoughts.
For clients with mood dysregulation, I teach Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills to build a foundation for emotion regulation, improve distress tolerance, and strengthen interpersonal relationships.
If you feel like your mood is holding you hostage, you can learn strategies to help you build a full and meaningful life.
"I feel down all the time. The littlest thing can make me feel like crying."
"I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster. Sometimes I feel completely fine, and other times I feel so sad or angry that I can't stand it. Am I crazy?"
Persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness can be a sign of a depressive disorder, particularly when accompanied by loss of interest in typically enjoyed activities, weight or appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, low energy, feelings of worthlessness, and/or thoughts of death or suicide.
Alternatively, you may experience some of these mood symptoms, but they don't linger for that long. It may feel like your moods are out of control - sometimes you feel completely fine, and then other times you feel seized by sadness, anger, fear, or despair. You feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster and you are ready to get off. If this sounds like you, then you may struggle with emotion dysregulation.
Approach to Treatment
Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy is an important and effective component of treatment for depressive disorders and mood dysregulation.
For clients with depressive disorders, I offer CBT that focuses on overcoming behavioral patterns that may be inadvertently reinforcing depressive symptoms. I work with clients to identify how their thoughts are influencing their mood and teach them skills to actively challenge or let go of unhelpful thoughts.
For clients with mood dysregulation, I teach Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills to build a foundation for emotion regulation, improve distress tolerance, and strengthen interpersonal relationships.
If you feel like your mood is holding you hostage, you can learn strategies to help you build a full and meaningful life.
