Mood dysregulation is a highly disruptive mental health concern that can have a profound negative impact on a person’s psychological well-being and overall quality of life. NAD+ infusion therapy is one of several innovative approaches that can help people whose lives have been disrupted by this condition.
What is Mood Dysregulation?
Mood dysregulation, which is sometimes also referred to as emotional dysregulation, refers to the inability to control your mindset and moderate how you express your emotions.
Failing to take the appropriate steps to address this problem can cause considerable harm, including:
- Ruined relationships
- Being suspended or expelled from school
- Difficulty finding and keeping a job
- Injuries due to fights and other reckless behaviors
- Being arrested, fined, and jailed
- Worsening mental health
- Becoming ostracized and isolated
Symptoms of Mood Dysregulation
Common symptoms of mood dysregulation can include:
- Sudden, unpredictable mood swings
- Agitation and irritability
- Outbursts of anger, aggression, and violence
- Extended periods of excessive crying
- Extreme reactions to relatively minor frustrations or setbacks
- Frequent conflicts, including physical altercations
- Using alcohol or other substances as a coping mechanism
- Threatening or engaging in self-harm or suicidal behaviors
What Causes Mood Dysregulation?
Mood dysregulation is often, but not always, a symptom of a mental health disorder. Conditions that are associated with this problem include:
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Substance use disorders (addictions)
Other factors that can contribute to mood dysregulation include:
- Genetic variations
- Family history of certain mental illnesses
- History of abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACES)
- Neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Brain tumors and infections
- Stroke
- Substance abuse
What Worsens Mood Dysregulation?
The emotional outbursts and dramatic shifts in temperament that are characteristic of mood dysregulation are often triggered by external influences. Examples of the stressors that can exacerbate these types of episodes include:
- Financial difficulties
- Excessive pressure in school or at work
- Conflicts within a relationship
- Serious medical concerns
- Using alcohol and other drugs
- Significant life changes
How to Improve Mood Dysregulation
Self-help strategies to address mood dysregulation include:
- Mindfulness and meditation will encourage you to feel your feelings without judging yourself or reacting reflexively,
- Journaling can be a safer and healthier way to process your experiences and express your emotions.
- Breathing techniques can help you remain calm and centered in moments when you feel like you may be losing control of your emotions.
- Healthy lifestyle practices such as following a nutritious diet plan, exercising regularly, and getting an appropriate amount of sleep can help you develop greater resilience in the face of stress, pressure, and other negative influences.
While the tips above can be beneficial for people with relatively moderate mood regulation challenges, those who have more severe needs may require professional help.
Depending on a variety of personal factors, effective treatment for mood dysregulation may include elements such as:
- Individual, group, and family therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help people identify negative beliefs and maladaptive thought patterns, then replace them with healthier ways of thinking about themselves and the world around them
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which focuses on skills development in the areas of emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which can alleviate psychological distress linked with traumatic memories
- Medications to ease the symptoms of mental health conditions that have been contributing to a person’s struggles with mood dysregulation
- Innovative, evidence-supported approaches such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, electromagnetic brain pulse (EMBP) therapy, and NAD+ infusion therapy
Using NAD+ Therapy to Help With Mood Dysregulation
NAD+ therapy uses intravenous infusions to increase the amount of a naturally produced coenzyme called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in a person’s system.
NAD+ molecules, which are found in every living cell, help the body convert nutrients in to energy. These molecules also play integral roles in several other functions, including DNA repair, immune cell functioning, and mitochondrial activity in the brain.
Deficient NAD+ levels have been linked with an array of physical and mental health concerns, including brain aging and various neurodegenerative conditions.
Boosting a person’s NAD+ levels via infusions can prevent or delay the onset of cognitive decline, memory problems, and mood disorders.
How NAD+ Improves Mood Dysregulation
From a mood dysregulation perspective, the benefits of NAD+ therapy include improvements in neuroplasticity and more balanced levels of certain mood-related neurotransmitters.
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to make both structural and functional changes in response to personal experiences and environmental influences.
Researchers have discovered that mood disorders and stress can disrupt neuroplasticity, while improved neuroplasticity promotes greater psychological resilience.
Alleviating certain mental illnesses and developing resilience can both have a positive effect on a person’s ability to better manage their mood and emotions.
Neurotransmitters
NAD+ helps the central nervous system maintain appropriate levels of several neurotransmitters, including:
- Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has a calming affect on the mind and body
- Serotonin, which influences mood, cognition, learning, memory, and other functions that can impact mood
- Dopamine, which is involved with functions such as reward, motivation, and pleasure
As a person ages, their ability to produce NAD+ decreases. This can cause imbalances among these and other brain chemicals. NAD+ therapy can rectify these imbalances, which can lead to improved mood and better emotional control.
Contact Conscious Health to Treat Mood Dysregulation
If you have been struggling with mood dysregulation or other disruptive mental health concerns, Conscious Health Center is here to help.
Our mental health treatment center in Los Angeles, CA, is a safe and highly supportive environment where you can receive personalized outpatient care from a small team of skilled professionals. We can assess your symptoms, identify potential underlying causes, and develop a customized plan to help you regain control of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
For answers to any questions that you have about our programs and services, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
Published: 5/1/2025
