Mood Disorders Mood disorders are serious mental illnesses. Depression, the most common mood disorder, is characterized by extreme, uncontrollable, and persistent feelings of sadness or worthlessness. People with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) are prone to falling into periods of extreme mood—sometimes depression and sometimes elation. Although environmental factors and life events can play a part in triggering these mood swings, they are largely a function of chemical imbalances in the brain. Symptoms of depression include extreme sadness, hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, or melancholy; fatigue; loss of appetite for food or sex; sleep disturbances; persistent thoughts of death or suicide; and suicide attempts. Depressed people may also have physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches. Symptoms of a manic episode include inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep; increased energy; racing thoughts; feelings of invulnerability; an irritable mood; heightened sex drive; and denial that anything is wrong. Both depression and manic-depression can interfere with judgment and the carrying out of everyday activities. For information on Asclepeion Center approaches, see holistic psychotherapy services. Sources. National Institute of Mental Health; Asclepeion Center for Body Mind Therapy. Working integratively and individually, Asclepeion Center staff have had marked success in alleviating the negative effects of a variety of disease states and health issues. To discuss what particular treatment protocols may be appropriate for any specific health issue, please contact the Asclepeion Center, (301.495.0933) to talk over your individual medical situation. For more information on what we do, see About Us and Services sections of this website. Many people who come to us feel they have already gleaned the positive effects of treatments offered by traditional medicine. Others want to explore possible synergies drawing upon holistic alternatives. Center staff are always glad to work cooperatively with any practitioners—both traditional and non-traditional—that a client desires. BACK TO TOP