Mental Health Concepts

Maturational Crisis

Life changing event that occurs as a part of the lifespan but causes significant stress.

Marriage, having a baby, retirement

Situational Crisis

Unexpected life event

Loss of a job, death of a family member

Adventitious Crisis

Natural disaster, national emergency, or violent crime

Tornado, hurricane, fire, terrorist attack, sexual assault

Actual Loss

Loss that is recognized by others

Loss of loved one

Perceived Loss

Loss that is not felt by others

Loss of mental acuity

5 Stages of Grief

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance

Denial

Stage of Grief

Rejection of reality, does not accept

Anger

Stage of Grief

Short temper, last out and blames others for injustice such as providers or higher power

Bargaining

Stage of Grief

Negotiation in attempt to get control over the situation

Acceptance

Stage of Grief

Able to acknowledge the loss or impending loss

Complicated Grief

Prolonged grief, intense and prolonged sorrow for more than a year that interferes with their daily functioning

Anticipatory Grief

Response to an impending loss, anticipation of a loss is going to occur

Disenfranchised Grief

A loss that is not publicly acknowledged such as a miscarriage

Avoidance

Defense Mechanism

Avoiding people or situations that cause distressing thoughts or feelings

Compensation

Defense Mechanism

Focus on strengths rather than weaknesses

Conversion

Defense Mechanism

Development of physical symptoms in response to stress without an underlying medical condition

Displacement

Defense Mechanism

Transfer feelings of emotions from one target to another

Disassociation

Defense Mechanism

Compartmentalizes or disconnects from reality

Identification

Defense Mechanism

Adopts the beliefs or behaviors of another person

Intellectualization

Defense Mechanism

Avoiding the emotions associated with a situation and instead focusing on the facts and logic

Projection

Defense Mechanism

Attribute own thoughts and feelings onto someone else

Rationalization

Defense Mechanism

Attempt to justify unacceptable behavior using a logic-based explanation

Reaction Formation

Defense Mechanism

Expresses opposite feelings or behaviors from what is actually felt

Regression

Defense Mechanism

Reverts to an earlier developmental level in response to a stressor

Repression

Defense Mechanism

Subconscious blocking of unpleasant feelings

Splitting

Defense Mechanism

Fails to recognize positive and negative attributes of a person

Sublimination

Defense Mechanism

Takes unacceptable impulses and transforms them into socially acceptable behaviors

Suppression

Defense Mechanism

Conscious blocking of unpleasant feelings

Undoing

Defense Mechanism

Cancels out unacceptable behavior or thoughts, reverses it

Physical Abuse

Intentional use of physical force such as hitting, kicking, burning, shaking

Emotional Abuse

Harm self-worth or emotional wellbeing

Neglect

Failure to provide basic needs to a vulnerable person

Economic abuse

Making someone financially dependent through improper use of funds by a person in a trusted relationship

Relaxation Techniques

Progressive relaxation, tighten and relax muscles to relieve stress and tension

Biofeedback

Device to monitor VS to voluntarily control the VS

Guided Imagery

Visualize detailed images to promote relaxation

Meditation

Mind and body practice where an individual focuses on a word or breathing to improve health and wellbeing

Milieu Therapy

Therapeutic environment that provides safety and security and allows for meaningful interactions

Operant Condition

Behavioral Therapy

Positive reinforcement for a desired behavior

Remodeling

Behavioral Therapy

Learning behaviors by imitating others

Aversion

Behavioral Therapy

Negative stimuli is paired with an unwanted behavior

Systemic Desensitization

Behavioral Therapy

Gradually exposed to a phobia while engaging in learned relaxation techniques

Flooding

Behavioral Therapy

Exposed to a feared stimuli at full intensity for a prolonged amount of time until it no longer causes anxiety

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Replaces an individual’s negative distorted thinking with positive, rational thinking

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Focuses on improving self-regulation in patients and decrease self-destructive behavior

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Therapy that is used to process traumatic memories that cause stress from PTSD and trauma related disorders

Focuses on the memory of a traumatic event while engaging in eye movements

Paranoid

Overly distrustful and suspicious

Schizoid

Blunt affect, reclusive, difficulty forming relationships

Schizotypal

Bizarre speech and behavior, magical thinking, visual disturbances

Antisocial

Violates social norms, physical violence and animal cruelty, aggressive, reckless, and manipulates others

Borderline

Intense mood swings and views things in extreme, unstable relationship, at risk for self harm and suicide

Histrionic

Center of attention, seductive and provocative, exaggerated emotions

Narcissistic

Grandiose sense of self, expect special treatment, take advantage of others without empathy

Avoidant

Low self-esteem and avoid social relationships due to fear of rejection

Dependent

Rely on others for everything

Obsessive Compulsive

Inflexible and anxious, perfectionist and rule followers, difficult time forming relationships with others

Physical Dependence

Body requires the substance to avoid physical symptoms of withdraw

Psychological Dependence

Absence of the substance causes significant distress or anxiety

Withdraw

Physiological symptoms that occur with discontinuation of a substance

Intoxication

Occurs with excessive use of a substance

Tolerance

Larger amounts of a medication is required to elicit a desired effect