As many as 19% of adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder, equating to over 40 million people. If you experience symptoms of anxiety, you’re certainly not alone. But taking measures to understand this disorder could be the first step in your path toward experiencing relief.
First, is anxiety a mood disorder? Not quite. Anxiety is classified under its own type of mental health disorders, referred to simply as “anxiety disorders.” However, a person with anxiety could share symptoms with other mood disorders.
Here’s what you need to know about anxiety vs. mood disorders and what that means for your anxiety disorder diagnosis. If you need help managing symptoms of anxiety, don’t hesitate to consult with a psychiatrist in Metairie at Crescent City Psychiatric, LLC.
Anxiety Disorder Classification: Mood Disorder or Something Else?
Mood disorders and anxiety disorders are two separate classifications of mental health disorders. Distinguishing between these two disorders could help you understand your symptoms a bit better.
What Is a Mood Disorder?
A mood disorder is a category of mental health disorders that affects your emotional state. Examples of mood disorders include:
- Major depressive disorder, which leads to symptoms of depression lasting at least two weeks
- Persistent depressive disorder, which is a mild, ongoing depressive disorder lasting for at least two years
- Bipolar disorder, which causes a person to alternate between periods of depression and elevated mood
- Substance-induced mood disorder, which involves symptoms of depression due to misuse of drugs or alcohol
While having anxiety can certainly affect your mood, mood disorder symptoms relate more to feelings of emptiness or sadness. Other symptoms of mood disorders include:
- Low self-esteem
- Feeling worthless or inadequate
- Loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed
- Trouble concentrating
What Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders encompass the mental health disorders that affect your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, but not necessarily your mood. These disorders involve feeling worried or panicked. Common anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: Classified by persistent feelings of worry or dread, often when there is nothing specific to worry about
- Panic disorder: Classified by frequent, unexpected panic attacks, which involve symptoms like a racing heartbeat, chest pain, sweating, and a feeling of loss of control
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Classified by repeated, unwanted thoughts and behaviors. People with OCD experience obsessions that lead them to repeat behaviors compulsively
- Social anxiety disorder: Classified by persistent fear and worry when interacting with others
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Classified by flashbacks and feelings of intense worry and stress after a traumatic event
In general, anxiety disorders produce symptoms like:
- Excessive fear
- Prolonged stress
- Worry, especially when there is nothing specific to worry about
- Elevated heart rate
- Sweating, trembling, or shaking
- Irritability and restlessness
It’s important to note that symptoms of anxiety disorders may also co-occur with symptoms of some personality disorders, like borderline personality disorder.
Anxiety Disorders vs. Mood Disorders
So is anxiety a mood disorder? No, but the two types of disorders can certainly overlap.
If you only have an anxiety disorder, you won’t experience symptoms of feeling helpless, worthless, lethargic, or depressed long-term. If you only have a mood disorder, you won’t experience persistent feelings of worry or dread, intense fears, or panic attacks.
Disordered thoughts, behaviors, and feelings don’t always fit neatly into boxes. You may experience some symptoms of both types of disorders. The purpose of diagnosing mood and anxiety disorders is to help clinicians determine the best path forward for you, not to place a label on you. Still, everyone experiences these disorders differently, and your psychiatrist will help you find a treatment that works best for your symptoms.
Find Tools To Manage Your Anxiety Disorder Today
Is anxiety a mood disorder? While anxiety is not classified as a mood disorder, it can affect your feelings and behavior. If you suspect you have an anxiety disorder or a mood disorder, you may have trouble managing your symptoms on your own. Crescent City Psychiatric, LLC, can help.
Contact us today at (985) 249-1322 to schedule an appointment, then explore our tips for dealing with social anxiety.
