Mental & Physical Health Notes

Unit 5: Mental & Physical Health

Introduction to Health Psychology

• Health psychology is a subfield that integrates psychological principles into behavioral medicine.

Understanding Stress

• Stress is defined as the process of appraising and responding to threats or challenges (stressors).

• Types of Stressors:

  • Eustress: Positive stress that can lead to growth and achievement.

  • Distress: Negative stress that can lead to health issues.

• Examples of stressors include:

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

  • Catastrophes (e.g., natural disasters)

  • Significant life changes (e.g., divorce, loss of a loved one)

  • Daily hassles (e.g., traffic, technology failures).

Stress’s Impact on Health

• Stress diverts energy from the immune system, weakening its response

• Chronic stress leads to:

  • Poor health choices (e.g., increased caffeine intake, smoking, lack of sleep).

  • Long-term physical effects, such as heart disease and immune suppression.

Types of Personalities and Health Outcomes

• Type A Personality: Competitive, aggressive, and highly driven; linked to higher risk of coronary heart disease due to increased stress hormone secretion.

• Type B Personality: Relaxed and easy-going; generally healthier compared to Type A.

• Catharsis is ineffective for managing anger; instead, strategies like waiting and distraction are more beneficial.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) by Hans Selye

1. Alarm Reaction: Activation of the sympathetic nervous system (increased heart rate, blood flow to muscles).

2. Resistance: Body maintains high levels of stress hormones (cortisol) to cope with ongoing stress, leading to resource depletion over time.

3. Exhaustion: Body becomes vulnerable to illness; indicators include heart problems, frequent colds, and headaches.

Coping Strategies for Stress

• Problem-Focused Coping: Directly addressing the issue that’s causing stress (best when control is perceived).

• Emotion-Focused Coping: Seeking emotional support when stress cannot be changed (this can sometimes lead to maladaptive behaviors like overeating).

• Key factors influencing coping effectiveness include personal control, supportive relationships, and explanatory styles.

Positive Psychology

• Focuses on strengths and virtues to foster individual and community thriving.

• Subjective well-being: Personal perception of happiness and fulfillment.

• Happiness is influenced by:

  • Strong relationships

  • Active lifestyle and exercise

  • Gratitude and a positive mindset.

Resilience

• The ability to recover from stress and maintain function.

• Resilience can be strengthened through supportive relationships, goal setting, and learning from experiences.

• Positive emotions play a critical role in enhancing resilience.

Aerobic Exercise and Meditation

• Aerobic exercise enhances physical health, reduces depression, and promotes longevity.

• Meditation and mindfulness reduce stress and improve mental health.

Influence of Optimism and Social Support

• Optimistic individuals have stronger immune systems and recover faster from illness.

• Social support mitigates stress, reduces blood pressure, and enhances immune function.

Psychological Disorders Overview

• Approximately 18.5% of U.S. adults experience mental illness annually.

• Criteria for psychological disorders include dysfunction, deviance from cultural norms, and distress.

Classifying Psychological Disorders

1. Dysfunctional: Interferes with daily functioning.

2. Deviant: Abnormal behavior that strays from cultural norms.

3. Distressing: Causes significant harm to oneself or others.

Treatment Modalities in Psychology

• Psychotherapy: Engaging in therapeutic conversations to resolve issues.

• Biomedical therapies: Use of medication and medical procedures to treat psychological disorders.

• Eclectic approaches combine different therapeutic methods to suit individual needs.

Key Therapy Types and Techniques

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Combined cognitive and behavioral techniques to modify negative thoughts and behaviors.

• Humanistic Therapies: Focus on self-acceptance and personal growth through client-centered approaches.

• Group and Family Therapies: Help improve relationship dynamics and social skills among participants.

Understanding Medication in Treatment

• Antidepressants: Influence neurotransmitter levels to alleviate depressive symptoms.

• Antipsychotics: Used to manage psychosis by blocking dopamine receptors.

• Anti-Anxiety Medications: Reduce symptoms of anxiety but may lead to dependency issues.

Conclusion

• Various psychological conditions require tailored approaches based on individual needs, including therapy types and medical interventions. Understanding the interrelation between mental health and overall well-being is crucial for effective treatment and coping strategies.

Psychological Disorders Overview

• Psychological disorders are conditions characterized by alterations in thought processes, emotions, and behaviors that create distress or impair functioning. Approximately 18.5% of U.S. adults experience mental illness annually.

Types of Psychological Disorders

1. Schizophrenia

   • A severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, often leading to delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.

   • positive symptoms: new, inappropriate behaviors like delusions, hallucinations, disordered speech

   • negative symptoms: lack of appropriate behaviors like flat affect, poverty of speech

   • might be caused by too much dopamine

2. Anxiety Disorders

   • Includes disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Phobias.

   • Symptoms may include:

     • Excessive worrying or anxiety.

     • Physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and trembling.

     • Avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations.

3. Mood Disorders

   • Includes Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.

   • Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder may include:

     • Persistent sadness or low mood.

     • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities.

     • Changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbances, and feelings of worthlessness.

   • Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder include:

     • Episodes of manic behavior (increased energy, reduced sleep, grandiosity) and depressive episodes.

4. Personality Disorders

   • Borderline: instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, often leading to impulsive actions and intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety.

   • Avoidant: feelings of extreme social inhibition and sensitivity to negative evaluation, leading to avoidance of social situations and a pervasive sense of inadequacy.

   • Histrionic: excessive attention-seeking behavior and inappropriately seductive behavior, excessive need for approval

   • Narcissistic: exaggerated feelings of self-importance, need for admiration

   • Schizoid: indifferent to social relationships and has limited range of emotional expression and experience

   • Schizotypal: difficulty with close relationships, eccentric behavior, unusual thoughts and perceptions of reality

   • Antisocial: disregard for laws and the safety of others, no consciousness or regard for right and wrong, often exhibiting manipulative or deceitful behavior.

   • paranoid: display pervasive mistrust and are constantly suspicious

   • dependent: show symptoms of anxiety when not around others and need constant reassurance

   • obsessive compulsive personality disorder: preoccupation with order and cleanliness and control at the expense of flexibility and efficiency.

     Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

     Includes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Hoarding Disorder.

     Symptoms of OCD may include:

     • Persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions).

     • Compulsions that are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety.

5. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

   • Develops after exposure to a traumatic event.

   • Symptoms may include:

     • Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks of the event.

     • Avoidance of reminders associated with the trauma.

     • Hyperarousal symptoms such as irritability and heightened startle response.

6. Neurodevelopmental Disorders

   • Such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

   • Symptoms of ADHD may include:

     • Difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviors.

   • Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder can include social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors.

7. Eating Disorders

   • Includes Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating Disorder.

   • Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa may include:

     • Severe restriction of food intake and an intense fear of gaining weight.

     • Distorted body image.

   • Bulimia involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging).

Classifying Psychological Disorders

1. Dysfunctional: Behavior that severely interferes with daily functioning.

2. Deviant: Behavior considered abnormal or away from cultural norms.

3. Distressing: Symptoms that cause significant distress or suffering to the individual or those around them.

Conclusion

• Understanding the varied types of psychological disorders and their symptoms is crucial for early intervention and tailored treatment. Therapies can range widely from psychotherapy to medication, depending on the specific disorder and its impact