What Are Mood Disorders?

This term encompasses several psychiatric disorders, including major depression, dysthymia (long-term, low-grade depression), and bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression). Some 10–20 million Americans suffer from a mood disorder.

These disorders, sometimes known collectively as “depression” or “clinical depression,” are very real disorders, with a physiological basis. They are not simply personality traits, over-sensitivity, laziness, etc. They are real problems requiring real solutions. Left untreated, depression can be fatal — via suicide. So it's a very serious health problem.

Who Gets Depression?

Depression affects people from all walks of life — rich and poor, men and women, young and old. No one is immune!

While depression seems to be more likely to afflict women than men, this is not true of bipolar disorder, and in any event, it still afflicts men in large numbers.

What To Do About It?

Check out the many sites we've got listed here, and find out what depression is, in all its forms. If you think you may have depression, call your doctor or another professional qualified to evaluate you (a clinical social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.). If you know someone who may be depressed, help them to make an appointment for an evaluation — or, if they're already in treatment, encourage them to stick with treatment and offer your support.

Support Groups

Informal, peer-oriented support groups are a marvelous way for those affected by depression, to help themselves. Knowing that there are others who've gone through the same thing, can be comforting. Shared experiences make it easier to get through the bad days (and there are many of those).

For friends and families, support groups can help by providing them with an idea of what to expect, and how to help.

Of course, informal support groups are no substitute for proper medical treatment! If you are on medication or in therapy — or both — you should stick with them, above all else. Support groups are a help, but they cannot be your whole treatment.