Premier Mood & Anxiety Disorder Treatment at Sierra Tucson

Learn About Mood Disorders & Anxiety 

It is not uncommon for people to use the word mood when describing feelings of happiness, sadness or other temporary emotional states. But what exactly are mood disorders? 

From a clinical standpoint, the term “mood disorder” has a meaning that goes beyond temporary moments of joy or sorrow. In a clinical setting, mood disorders refer to persistent emotional states that have significant influence on the way a person interacts with and views the world around them. It also refers to emotional states that cause impairment to a person’s ability to function appropriately. While a mood disorder is not an actual clinical diagnosis, conditions like depressive disorders and bipolar disorders fall into the general classification of mood disorders. 

Anxiety is not a mood disorder, but rather it is a category of conditions on its own. Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder and separation anxiety disorder. 

While anxiety is a common and normal response to stress, when it becomes excessive to the point that it is negatively impacting a person’s ability to function properly, it warrants seeking professional care. 

Signs & Symptoms of Mood Disorders  

The types of symptoms someone who has a mood disorder might experience will vary depending on whether they are suffering from a depressive disorder or a bipolar-related disorder. General examples of possible symptoms that can arise when someone is suffering from a type of mood disorder include: 

Behavioral symptoms 

• Impulsive or risky behaviors 

• Reduced motivation or difficulty initiating or completing tasks 

• Agitation, pacing or an inability to sit still 

• Noticeable slowing of speech or movement 

• Withdrawing from social activities or loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable 

Emotional symptoms 

• Persistent sadness or low mood 

• Feelings of emptiness 

• Irritability, anger or heightened reactivity 

• Elevated or unusually euphoric mood 

• Rapid or unpredictable mood shifts 

• Feelings of hopelessness 

• Excessive feelings of guilt, shame or worthlessness 

Cognitive symptoms 

• Racing thoughts or flights of ideas 

• Difficulty concentrating 

• Slowed thinking or mental fog 

• Impaired judgment 

• Intrusive thoughts about death or suicide 

• Inflated self-esteem or feelings of grandiosity 

• Preoccupation with negative self-beliefs  

Physical and somatic symptoms 

• Changes in sleep 

• Changes in appetite or weight 

• Fatigue, low energy or physical exhaustion 

• Psychomotor agitation (e.g., fidgeting or feeling restless) 

• Physical tension, aches or discomfort without a clear medical cause 

Functional symptoms 

• Declined performance at work 

• Difficulty maintaining relationships 

• Inability to take care of daily responsibilities 

• Impaired ability to function overall 

Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders  

Anxiety disorder symptoms may present differently depending on the specific type of anxiety disorder a person is suffering from. Examples of the various symptoms are outlined below. 

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms 

Generalized anxiety disorder, also known simply as GAD, is characterized by feelings of persistent, excessive worry about multiple areas of life. Additional symptoms can include: 

• Restlessness or feeling “on edge” 

• Being easily fatigued 

• Difficulty concentrating or feeling like one’s mind is going blank 

• Irritability 

• Muscle tension 

• Sleep disturbances 

The worry a person who has GAD experiences is hard to control and causes extreme distress or hinders their ability to function appropriately. 

Panic disorder symptoms 

Panic disorder occurs when a person has recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes. Symptoms a person may experience include: 

• Pounding or racing heart 

• Sweating 

• Trembling or shaking 

• Shortness of breath 

• Choking sensations 

• Nausea or abdominal distress 

• Dizziness or lightheadedness 

• Chills or heat sensations 

• Numbness or tingling 

• Feelings of detachment 

• Fear of losing control 

• Fear of dying 

After having a panic attack, people often experience ongoing worry that they will have another one, and they may display behavioral changes like avoiding certain places or activities out of fear that it will trigger another panic attack. 

Specific phobia symptoms 

Specific phobia occurs when a person has a marked fear of or experiences excessive levels of anxiety about a specific object or situation, such as: 

• Animals 

• Bugs 

• Heights 

• Flying 

• Needles 

• Enclosed spaces 

The fear people have as part of a phobia is out of proportion to the actual danger associated with the object or situation. Symptoms of specific phobia can include: 

• Having an immediate fear response when exposed to the phobic trigger 

• Avoiding the object or situation, potentially to the point that they limit the activities they participate in to prevent themselves from being exposed to the phobia 

• Experiencing intense distress when faced with the object or situation they are afraid of 

Social anxiety disorder symptoms 

Social anxiety disorder involves a person having intense fear or anxiety about social situations because they believe that they may be scrutinized, judged or embarrassed. Symptoms of social anxiety disorder can include: 

• Fear of acting in a way that will be negatively perceived 

• Avoiding social interactions or performance situations 

• Physical symptoms such as blushing, trembling, sweating or having a shaky voice 

• Experiencing excessive levels of anxiety before having to attend social events 

• Experiencing significant distress, to the point that it interferes with relationships and work performance 

Separation anxiety disorder symptoms 

Separation anxiety disorder occurs when a person has intense fear or anxiety about being separated from attachment figures like parents, caregivers or partners. Symptoms may include: 

• Distress when anticipating or experiencing separation 

• Persistent worry about losing major attachment figures 

• Fear of being alone or without the attachment figures 

• Refusing to go out or sleep away from the attachment figures 

• Having nightmares about separation 

• Physical complaints like headaches and stomachaches when a separation happens or is expected to happen 

Types of Treatment for Mood Disorders & Anxiety 

At our residential treatment center in Tucson, Arizona, we specialize in providing targeted care for people who are suffering from anxiety and mood disorders. We take into account the unique needs and experiences of each of our residents and craft an individualized treatment plan that is designed to meet them where they are on their healing journey. 

We offer a vast number of therapeutic interventions and treatment experiences. The therapies each person receives are based on the customized care plan our on-site clinicians create for them. You can view a complete list of our evidence-based therapy options by clicking here, and you can learn about our integrative therapies by clicking here.  

Comprehensive, Compassionate Care 

We recognize that individuals who have mood disorders or anxiety frequently struggle with co-occurring concerns like substance use, chronic pain and the effects of trauma. Our interdisciplinary team uses an approach to care that incorporates both conventional therapeutic services and complementary evidence-based and experiential treatment options to address your unique needs and enhance your healing process. 

Our specialized holistic services are designed to treat the entire person — mind, body and spirit — to ease distress while providing the highest-quality, comprehensive medical and psychiatric care. 

Once you have completed treatment, you will return home with a broad range of new skills, insights and resources that will help you continue your healing journey.