PER DEV | Mental Health

Mental Health

state of well-being that allows one to cope with stress, realize ability, learn & work well, contribute to community

Stress

physiological and psychological response to change

Symptoms of Stress

• anxiety & irritability

• difficulty concentrating

• headache

• body pains

• upset stomach

Eustress

not long and overwhelming stress that happens during pleasant activities, triggers adrenaline, and improves mental health

Distress

overwhelming stress that happens during unpleasant activities, negatively affects problems, and worsens anxiety and mental health

Anxiety

anticipation of future concerns and can affect mental health if it impacts ability to live

Symptoms of Anxiety

• sweating

• nausea

• shaking

• agitation

• heart palpitations

• severe feeling of panic

• shortness of breath

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

excessive worry and tension without reason

Panic Disorder

sudden fear and brings a panic attack

Specific Phobia

intense fear of a specific object or situation

Separation Anxiety Disorder

anxiety when person close to you leaves

Agoraphobia

fear of being in a place hard to escape from

Social Anxiety Disorder

overwhelming fear, worry, and self consciousness

Defense Mechanisms

unconsciously defend oneself from discomfort and unpleasant situations to better cope

History of Defense Mechanisms

Sigmund Freud noted ego defenses and his daughter Ana elaborated on the idea

Situations of Defense Mechanisms

• keep feelings within bearable limits

• restore emotional balance

• rebalance after major life changes

• handle unresolvable conflict with people we cannot bear to leave

• handle major conflicts with conscience

Repression

keeping disturbing thoughts from becoming conscious and being unable to recall threatening event, motivated forgetting

Denial

blocking external events from awareness, refusing to accept reality and facts, partners with rationalization

Displacement

directing strong emotions and satisfying impulse towards not harmful object or person

Projection

projecting and wanting to se unacceptable personal behaviors onto someone or something else

Regression

revert to earlier stage of development and previously developed mental behavior when forced with overwhelming stress

Sublimation

satisfying impulse with socially acceptable ways and a cornerstone of civil life