Mood Disorders
Mood that swings further or lasts longer than it used to, in a pattern that is hard to see from the inside.
Mood disorders cover the patterns where mood itself is what has changed: further in either direction than it used to go, for longer, or on a cycle that other people notice before you do. Some people describe stretches where everything is heavy, separated by stretches where sleep seems optional and plans get very large very quickly. Some describe an unpredictability that makes it hard to commit to anything more than a week out.
This is one where an outside view genuinely helps, because the pattern is much easier to see across months than from inside a given week. If somebody close to you has been the one raising it, bringing what they have said is useful.
Where people start here. The starting point is usually a Psychiatric Evaluation, a full hour on history, physical health, sleep and anything you are already taking, because the pattern over time is what matters and it takes a proper conversation to map. Medication Management is the ongoing appointment where a plan gets reviewed and adjusted as things change, rather than set once. Therapy runs alongside for the part that is about noticing what is happening earlier and deciding what to do about it.
If you are in crisis or someone may be in danger, call or text 988, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Appointments run one hour, in person in Bowie or by telehealth. We see adults 18 and over.