Mental health Vocab (Health class)

Anxiety:

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

Bipolar disorder:

a chronic mental health condition marked by extreme shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration.

Coping:

the conscious and unconscious thoughts, behaviors, and strategies people use to manage stress, painful emotions, and difficult life situations.

Delusion:

a fixed, false belief that a person holds with absolute conviction, even when presented with clear, indisputable evidence that the belief is not true.

Depression:

a common, serious, and treatable mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, low energy, and a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.

Dopamine:

an organic chemical that acts as both a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger in the brain) and a hormone.

Endorphines:

endogenous opioid peptide-chain hormones and neurotransmitters produced by the central nervous system (specifically the hypothalamus and pituitary gland) to help relieve pain, reduce stress, and improve mood.

Mania:

a state of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, paired with greatly increased energy, activity, or goal-directed behavior.

Mood:

conscious state of mind or a predominant, sustained emotional state that shapes how you perceive and react to the world around you.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder):

a mental health condition featuring a cycle of unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform.

Phobia:

an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, excessive, and unrealistic fear of a specific object, activity, or situation.

pyschology:

the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior.

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder):

a mental health condition that develops after you experience or witness a terrifying, shocking, or dangerous event.

Self-Care:

the practice of taking deliberate actions to protect and promote your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Serotonin:

a monoamine neurotransmitter and hormone synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan.

Stigma:

a set of negative and often unfair beliefs, stereotypes, or attitudes that a society, group, or individual holds against a person because of a specific characteristic, health condition, or behavior.

stress:

the body and mind's natural physical and emotional response to demands, pressure, or a perceived threat.

Therapy:

a structured treatment where a trained mental health professional helps you address emotional difficulties, mental health conditions, and life stressors through conversation and evidence-based techniques.