Mood stabilizers

Can someone please explain to me what a mood stabilizer does? I know the name sounds obvious but how does it differ from an anti depressant? Thanks.

[Marnie22 Volunteer]

Antidepressants lift your mood. Mood stabilizers are for people who get very high 'ups' but who also get very low 'downs.' They are supposed to even things out. I tried a mood stabilizer for emotional lability following a brain injury. It helped with the low times but it also flattened all my emotions out and I never could feel happy, so I stopped it. I have been on various dosages of the same antidepressant for years and have found it really helpful. For the dramatic and sudden mood swings that I get from the emotional lability I have found relaxation and trance recordings (hypnotherapy,) to be better than the medication.🙂🌸