Mental Health

mental health

  • characterized by four facets:
  1. high self-esteem
  2. the ability to get along well with others
  3. the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality
  4. the ability to function in society
  • mental illness: any form of psychiatric disorder   * often caused by     * organic mental disorder: physical cause       * eg. brain tumors, strokes, physical accidents     * functional mental disorder: no known physical cause or change       * eg. stress, life crises and events
  • classifications of mental disorders   * anxiety disorders: phobias, obsessive-compulsive behavior, generally anxious behavior   * dissociative disorders: amnesia, multiple personality disorder   * mood disorders: depression, bipolar disorder/manic depressive disorder   * personality diorders: avoidant, dependent, histrionic, narcissistic, passive-aggressive     * avoidant personality disorder: isolation from others     * dependent personality disorder: overly reliant on others     * histrionic personality disorder: hysterical, chaos, drama     * narcissistic personality disorder: excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance     * passive-aggressive personality disorder: the indirect expression of negative feelings instead of openly addressing them   * schizophrenia: paranoia   * somatoform disorders: hypochondria, conversion disorder

stress vs. depression

stress → increased stress → mild depression → moderate depression → severe depression → consider suicide → threaten suicide → commit suicide

  • depression: feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and helplessness
  • signs of depression   * loss of sleep or excessive sleep   * loss of interest   * loss of or excessive appetite   * loss of concentration ability   * physical complaints   * withdrawal from otheres/society   * lack of enthusiasm   * irritability   * anxiety   * frequent crying   * angry or hostile behavior
  • treating depression   * talking with others   * examining thoughts   * planning the day   * making to-do lists   * listing one’s strengths   * planning something fun to do   * engaging in vigorous exercise   * dressing neatly   * eating balanced, healthy meals   * getting plenty of rest/sleep
  • potential warning signs of suicide   * rebellion   * preoccupation with death   * verbal expression of suicide   * previous suicide attempts   * giving away important possessions   * sudden interest in risk taking/dangerous activities   * depressed mood   * increased irritability and behavioral problems   * inattention to personal hygiene   * changes in sleep   * changes in appetite   * decline in school/work performance   * increase in or start of use of alcohol or other drugs   * increased social withdrawal   * history of abuse   * frequent sleeping disorders or complaints   * loss of interest in previous enjoyable activities
  • crisis intervention   * listen   * don’t be misled   * evaluate seriousness of thoughts/feelings   * evaluate severity of emotional disturbance   * take complaints/feeling seriously   * ask directly if they have thought of suicide   * be affirmative but supportive   * evaluate available resources   * act specifically to their situation   * ask for assistance on consultation

5 stages of greif

  1. shock and denial: refusing to think about it or believe it is happening
  2. anger: becoming upset of the facts, feeling like they’ve been mistreated, life is unfair
  3. bargaining: trying to get things back as if making deals
  4. depression and detachment: feeling like all is lost and that it’s impossible to laugh or feel anything; nothing is true or matters anymore
  5. acceptance: feeling like it’s done and that they can move on and are able to discuss it

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