Mood or emotions?

I am realizing I cannot always tell when I am just having emotional issues and when I am having mood issues, perhaps causing an emotional issue. Like it's hard to tell if I am sad or depressed sometimes, and it's hard to tell if I am in an irritable mood or irritable because of emotions I am feeling. I know how long you experience the feeling is sometimes discussed as the differentiation, yet I think situationally I could feel sad about something for a long time without it being my typical depression. In a way I think it doesn't matter that much. Because moods distort my thinking, though, sometimes it's helpful to realize it's that. I guess it's important to recognize what you are feeling regardless of the issue.

Anyone else have this issue telling apart mood and emotions? How do you tell which you are feeling? How important is it, in your opinion or experience to differentiate? (Don't feel you have to respond to all those questions unless you'd like to).

I agree moods distort thinking...there is a great thread about cognitive distortions...let me see if I can give you the link...

https://psychcentralforums.com/psych...ve+distortions

I have no idea which is which.

I think this is an absolutely excellent topic. I get so tired, personally, of hearing "normal" people tell me I'm being emotional when I know it is my illness that is acting up. It's like I should be able to control my mental life completely somehow, despite the fact that I have this major brain illness that dramatically affects mood--among other things. It's not always about being emotional or too sensitive or whatever. Sometimes, maybe a lot of the time, it's just my illness rearing its ugly head.

It's very difficult for "normal" people to understand what we are dealing with on a daily basis. At times, our emotions are governed by our illnesses. We aren't in control of that. We can't just snap out of that. It's a bit more complicated than that. I wish people understood that more. I really do.

If I’m hella irritated and there no “ real reason” it’s situational emotion ... if I’m hella irritated because my husband dropped a sock on the floor is mood/Bipolar

If I’m sad depressed weepy and no real specific reason then it’s bipolar depression. If someone has died I love or I lost something sentimental it’s situational emotion

Junerain thanks for the link to cognitive distortions. I am trying to get better at recognizing those when I have them.

bpcyclist I do feel that this is the case for me sometimes, that my emotions are governed by my mood. When I was very irritable while having a mixed episode I tried very hard to not take it out on anyone and mostly succeeded, but I don't think people totally got it when I tried to explain. I wasn't just slightly on edge, I felt like my head was going to explode 24/7 and had to navigate life in that state. Really tough!

Christina thanks for sharing. Looks like you have an ability to recognize the difference and that's great. I am working on it.

Great thread idea!

It had taken me years to differentiate feelings vs mood.

I now have the same perspective as our lovely ~Christina!

There is no doubt in my mind that you will totally get it, yellow_fleurs!
Thanks for this intersting thread!

What Christina said. In addition for me a differentiating factor is duration. A mood always lasts days while emotions are constantly changing in a shorter period of time.