Crane Counseling Services 605 Washington Avenue North Haven, CT
Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, & Hoarding
There is often much confusion about what qualifies as a mood or anxiety disorder. It is important to note that not all therapists treat every disorder. Some therapists specialize in specific disorders and others may refer clients to a higher or different level of care pending the specific diagnosis. Below is a description of a mood and anxiety disorder as well as the diagnosis and what symptoms of a mood or anxiety disorder you may want to seek therapy for.
What is a mood disorder?
A mood disorder is present when one’s “general emotional state or mood is distorted or inconsistent with your circumstances and interferes with your ability to function”(Mayo Clinic, 2021). In other words, when your reaction, thoughts, or mood does not match the events happening in your life. Mood disorders include:
- Major depression
- Dysthymia
- Bipolar disorder
- Mood disorder linked to another health condition
- Substance-induced mood disorder
What is an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety is a group of mental illnesses that cause constant and overwhelming anxiety and fear. The excessive anxiety can make you avoid work, school, family get-togethers, and other social situations that might trigger or worsen your symptoms. There has been an increase in people with an anxiety disorder during the covid pandemic. Even if your are experiencing these as new symptoms since 2020; it is a good idea to seek a therapist to develop a plan to manage your symptoms. Anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias
- Agoraphobia
- Separation anxiety
- Medication-induced anxiety disorder
Do you treat hoarding disorder?
Hoarding is a disorder that falls under Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; which is a personality disorder. Crane Counseling Services commonly treats clients with personality disorders such as Narcissistic Personality, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Avoidant, and Antisocial Personalities. However, often it can be similar symptoms of a mood or anxiety disorder that bring a client to the office in the first place. We do work with clients who hoard or have hoarding tendencies. Most often it is due to OCD disorder, but it does not have to be. Hoarding can be learned behavior, a symptom of chronic depression, misplaced attachment, as well as a compulsion. Crane Counseling Services will work with clients in the office or virtually as well as conduct an initial assessment of the situation. Working with the individual to minimize risk to self in a home or residential setting is one of the first steps to treating a client who hoards as well as working with the individual to determine how they view success in managing their hoarding disorder. Hoarding assessment and assistance with risk management and clean up may require additional time than many insurance companies cover. Feel free to inquire about this cost as we want to ensure you get the help you need.
