Mood stabilizer facts for kids

A mood stabilizer is a special kind of medication that helps people with certain mood disorders. These disorders can cause a person's mood to change very quickly and strongly, like going from feeling extremely happy and energetic (called mania) to feeling very sad and low (called depression). Mood stabilizers help to make these mood changes less extreme and more steady. They are often used to treat conditions like bipolar disorder and sometimes Borderline personality disorder. These medicines can also help prevent convulsions in some people.

What Are Mood Stabilizers?

Mood stabilizers are medicines that help balance a person's mood. Imagine your mood as a swing. For some people, this swing goes very high and then very low, very fast. Mood stabilizers help keep the swing in the middle, so it doesn't go too high or too low. This helps people feel more stable and in control of their emotions.

Why Do People Need Them?

People need mood stabilizers when their moods change so much that it affects their daily life. For example, someone with bipolar disorder might have periods where they feel incredibly energetic and don't need much sleep (mania). Then, they might switch to feeling very sad, tired, and lose interest in everything (depression). These big mood swings can make it hard to go to school, make friends, or do everyday activities. Mood stabilizers help to calm these extreme changes.

How Do Mood Stabilizers Work?

Scientists are still learning exactly how all mood stabilizers work. But generally, they are thought to help balance certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. These chemicals send messages between brain cells and play a big role in how we feel. By balancing these chemicals, mood stabilizers can help keep moods more even.

Common Types of Mood Stabilizers

There are different types of mood stabilizers, and a doctor will choose the best one for each person. Some of the well-known ones include:

• Lithium: This was one of the first mood stabilizers discovered. It's a natural salt that helps calm the brain.
• Anticonvulsant medications: Some medicines first used to treat seizures (like valproate or lamotrigine) were found to also be very good at stabilizing moods.

Who Prescribes Mood Stabilizers?

Only a special doctor called a psychiatrist can prescribe mood stabilizers. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. They will carefully check a person's health and symptoms before deciding if a mood stabilizer is the right treatment. They also help manage the medicine to make sure it's working well and to check for any side effects.

Living with a Mood Disorder

Having a mood disorder doesn't mean someone is "broken" or "bad." It's a health condition, just like diabetes or asthma. With the right help, including mood stabilizers and sometimes therapy, people with mood disorders can live happy and successful lives. It's important to remember that taking medicine is just one part of staying healthy. Eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising are also very important.

Support and Understanding

If you know someone who takes mood stabilizers, it's important to be supportive and understanding. Learning about mood disorders can help you be a better friend or family member. Remember that these medicines help people feel better and manage their health condition.

See also

In Spanish: Estabilizador del estado de ánimo para niños