50% of children and adolescents feel either depressed, moody or irritable to a significant extent.

That is half the population of teens and children. So does that mean they all have some sort of disorder, needing immediate psychological and psychiatric help? Not necessarily. 

But what the data shows us is that individuals with a mood disorder will have their first manic or depressive episode before turning into an adult. 

This indicates that a child can suffer through these difficult experiences and will need the help of their caretaker to go through them safely without severe impairment.

Let’s explain what exactly is a mood disorder, and how you can help your child understand, express, and deal with their emotions!

What are mood disorders?

A mood disorder is a psychological disorder that affects an individual’s emotional well-being, which usually entails not having a handle regulating their emotions.

The major types of mood disorders found in children are:

1. Major depressive disorder.
2. Bipolar disorder.
3. Dysthymia.
4. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD).
5. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
6. Substance-Induced Mood Disorder.

But how do you differentiate between a child’s bad mood and having symptoms of a mood disorder? 

I have a few ideas that can help you.

What are the symptoms a kid might go through?

Typically, kids with mood disorders experience:

• Frequent sadness, loneliness, and helplessness.
• Feeling bored and uninterested in their hobbies or activities they used to enjoy.
• Changes in appetite (whether eating too much or too little).
• A sense of irritability, anger, and inadequacy.
• A difficulty in achieving at school.
• Hypersensitivity to rejection.
• Feeling tired with frequent headaches.
• And in more serious cases, suicidal ideation or suicide attempts.

Kids who have a mood disorder can threaten to run away, have very low self-esteem, and might be thinking about suicide, so it’s important to notice the sign before things can escalate.

What are the causes of a mood disorder?

Mood disorders don’t have a specific origin; they are usually passed down by someone in the family genetically. The probability that your kid will inherit major depression from a family member is 35%, while a predisposition to having bipolar disorder ranges from 60% to 93%. 

The causes haven’t been understood entirely either; an imbalance of chemicals in the brain is definitely something researchers and doctors factor in. Sometimes it is environmental factors like chronic stress and unexpected events happening to the person. 

However, all medical health professionals agree that mood disorders can be treated, or at the least, help can be given to better the quality of life of the individual.

What are the treatment options?

There are several treatment options available for people with mood disorders, like:

• Individual therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, or interpersonal therapy can help identify your child’s problems and give both you and them the tools needed to deal with their mood disorder.
• Family therapy focuses on how parents and siblings can play such an important and supportive role when dealing with mood disorders. The professional also explores potential stressors in the child’s interactions with the family.
• Medication, which is the last option usually. However, if a psychiatrist feels like your child needs medication to function properly, there is no shame in that!

The earlier the treatment, the more effective your child’s coping strategies will be.