Chapter 3 Personal Health: Psychological

Defining Psychological Health

• Psychological health is a broad concept

  • Negative Definition:

    • Absence of sickness

  • Positive Definition:

    • Presence of wellness

• Psychological health contributes to every dimension of wellness.

Positive Psychology

Abraham Maslow’s Contributions

• Adopted the perspective of “positive psychology” in 1968

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

  1. Physiological Needs

     • Most important

  2. Safety and Security

  3. Love and Belongingness

  4. Self-Esteem

  5. Self-Actualization

Characteristics of Self-Actualized People

• Self-Actualization: A state met by individuals who have fulfilled a good measure of their human potential.

• Shared qualities of self-actualized individuals:

  • Realism: Cope with the world as it exists

  • Acceptance:

    • Possess a positive self-concept and healthy self-esteem

  • Autonomy:

    • Exhibit physical, social, emotional, and intellectual independence

  • Authenticity:

    • Feel free to be themselves

  • Capacity for Intimacy:

    • Share feelings without fear of rejection

  • Creativity:

    • View the world with curiosity

What Psychological Health Is Not

• Psychological health does not equate to being “normal.”

• Seeking help for personal issues does not reflect psychological unhealthiness or mental illness.

• Psychological health cannot be solely assessed by symptoms or outward appearance.

Meeting Life’s Challenges with a Positive Self-Concept

• Growing up psychologically means developing coping mechanisms for life’s challenges.

• Erik Erikson’s Theory:

  • Personality and identity develop through eight stages across lifespan.

  • Importance of developing a unified sense of self and an adult identity.

• Values:

  • Criteria for judging what is good and bad, underpinning moral decisions and behavior.

Achieving Healthy Self-Esteem

• Positive self-concept involves:

  • Feelings of love and the ability to give love.

  • Accomplishing personal goals.

  • Integration of self-concept for stability (lack of contradictions).

• Challenges to Self-esteem:

  • Acknowledge when a problem arises.

  • Cognitive Distortions:

    • Patterns of negative thinking that exaggerate difficulties.

  • Develop realistic self-talk:

    • Internal statements affecting one's reasoning.

Psychological Defense Mechanisms

• Purpose: Rearrange thoughts and feelings to resolve conflicts.

• Can be categorized as:

  • Healthy and Adaptive:

    • Examples: Humor, altruism

  • Maladaptive:

    • May obscure solutions

Types of Defense Mechanisms

Optimism and Honesty

• Optimism:

  • Tendency to focus on hopeful outcomes.

• Pessimism:

  • Tendency to focus on negatives and unfavorable outcomes.

• Both optimism and pessimism can be learned.

• Honest Communication:

  • Assertiveness:

    • Forceful expression that is not hostile; ability to say no or yes.

Social Media and Loneliness

• Loneliness: A passive feeling state that may lead to inaction.

• Balancing social media usage:

  • Consider impacts on feelings of connection and belonging.

  • Evaluate if social media is widening your community or isolating you.

• Dealing with Loneliness:

  • Learning to enjoy time alone.

Anger Management

• Individuals vary in managing anger; some struggle to express while others do so explosively.

• Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED):

  • Characterized by sudden, inappropriate expressions of anger.

• Approaches to managing anger include:

  • Reframing thoughts during conflict.

  • Using distraction techniques.

• Handling Anger in Others:

  • Respond calmly, not with anger.

  • If unable to remain calm, disengage temporarily.

Understanding Psychological Disorders

• Symptoms of psychological disorders include emotions or irrational thoughts disrupting daily activities.

• Multifactorial Nature:

  • Factors: Genetics, environment, life events, and varied rates across different populations.

• Some psychological disorders stem from dysfunctional interactions between neurotransmitters and their receptors.

Neurological Basis of Psychological Disorders

• Communication in Nerve Cells (Neurons):

  • Neurons communicate through electrical impulses and chemical messages.

  • Key Neurotransmitters:

    • Serotonin and Norepinephrine: Affect mood, attention, and psychological states.

  • Many psychological issues relate to neurotransmitter problems, often treated with medications that target these chemicals.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety: Fear not associated with a specific threat.

• Categories:

  • Specific Phobia: Fear of a specific object or situation.

  • Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of humiliation in social scenarios.

  • Panic Disorder: Sudden anxiety surges, possibly leading to panic attacks.

    • Agoraphobia: Fear of being alone without help.

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Excessive worry about multiple issues.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Recurring thoughts and senseless rituals.

    • Obsessions: Unwanted recurrent thoughts.

    • Compulsions: Repetitive, difficult-to-resist actions.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Definition: Reliving traumatic experiences through flashbacks or dreams.

• If symptoms resolve in under a month, classified as acute stress disorder.

• Treatment Approaches:

  • Medication and psychological interventions.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Features

• Key symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

• Diagnosis Criteria:

  • Persistent behavior patterns that disrupt functioning or development.

  • Symptoms must manifest before age 12.

Mood Disorders

Types of Mood Disorders

• Definition: Intense emotional disturbances impacting regular functioning.

• Two Main Types:

  1. Major Depressive Disorder

  2. Bipolar Disorder

Depression

• Symptoms include sadness, hopelessness, lack of interest, appetite changes, disturbed sleep, and physical symptoms.

• Affects approximately 8.3% of Americans annually.

• Treatment Options:

  • Combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy for best initial results.

  • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Effective for severe cases when other treatments fail.

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Treated with light therapy.

Bipolar Disorder

• Characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania.

  • Mania: Excessive elation, irritability, hyper-talkativeness, inflated self-esteem, and expansiveness.

  • Antimanic drugs may be prescribed for ongoing treatment.

Schizophrenia

• A severe mental disorder affecting thought processes and perceptions.

• General Characteristics:

  • Disorganized thoughts and motor behavior.

  • Presence of delusions and auditory hallucinations.

  • Decreased social and occupational functioning.

• Requires professional interventions and medication due to suicide risk.

Prevalence of Psychological Disorders in the U.S.

• Table of Lifetime Prevalence: Shows percentages for various disorders among males and females.

  • Notable Disorders:

    • Specific Phobia: Male (9.9%), Female (17.5%)

    • Major Depressive Episode: Male (14.7%), Female (26.1%)

    • Bipolar Disorder: Male (2.5%), Female (2.5%)

    • Schizophrenia: Male (3.7%), Female (3.4%)

Suicide Risk and Prevention

Statistics

• Leading Cause: In the U.S., suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-14 and 20-34.

• Higher rates observed in men and LGBTQ youth.

• Warning Signs:

  • Mentions of dying or self-harm.

  • Changes in personality or mood.

  • Sudden improvements in mood may signal decision-making to act.

  • Gift-giving of personal items or increase in reckless behavior.

Risk Factors

• Prior suicide attempts.

• Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness.

• Substance use disorders.

• Serious medical problems and mental disorders, particularly mood disorders.

• Access to firearms and social isolation.

• History of bullying or abuse.

Protective Factors

• Strong religious belief or cultural views against suicide.

• Social connections and engagement in mental health treatments.

• Positive relationships with family and pets.

• Limiting access to lethal means, such as firearms.

• Encouragement to communicate feelings can be beneficial, but professional help is essential when needed.

Addressing Myths about Suicide

• Common Myths:

  • People intent on suicide don’t talk about it (Fact: They often do).

  • Surviving an attempt means they didn't intend to die (Fact: Many misjudge the lethality).

  • All suicides are irrational (Fact: Many are understandable, given circumstances).

  • Talking about suicide increases risk (Fact: Open discussions can provide relief).

Models of Human Nature and Therapeutic Change

Biological Model

• Mind’s activities depend on brain structure.

  • Pharmacological Therapies:

    • Include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics.

    • Combination therapies often yield better results for moderate to severe depression.

Behavioral Model

• Focuses on observable behaviors:

  • Analyzes actions based on stimulus-response-reinforcement dynamics.

  • Exposure practices for fearful individuals.

Cognitive Model

• Looks at the impact of thoughts on behavior and emotions:

  • Aims to identify and challenge harmful beliefs.

Psychodynamic Model

• Emphasizes subconscious thoughts and defenses.

  • Symptoms stem from hidden desires and emotions.

Integration of Models

• Most clinicians utilize a Biopsychosocial Model to understand mental illness.

  • Pragmatic cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) combine elements from both behavioral and cognitive models.

  • Criticism towards psychodynamic therapies for being ineffective.

Getting Help

Self-Help Strategies

• Learn coping mechanisms.

• Use journaling as a coping tool.

• Draw strength from religious practices.

Peer Support

• Engaging in peer counseling and support groups.

• Access online resources and mental health apps.

Professional Help Indicators

• Serious emotional issues impacting daily life.

• Consideration or attempt of suicide.

• Signs of hallucinations, memory loss, or incoherence.

• Substance use impairing functioning.

• Addressing stigma associated with seeking help is crucial.

• Campus help centers are great resources for students.

Review Questions

• Define psychological health.

• Discuss psychological strategies to face life's challenges positively.

• Identify common psychological disorders.

• Recognize warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide.

• Summarize therapy models addressing mental health issues.

• Describe available help for psychological problems.