Mental and Emotional Health Chapter 6 Mental and Emotional Health

Health Goals for Mental and Emotional Health I will develop good character I will interact in ways that help create a positive social and emotional environment I will develop healthful personality characteristics I will choose behaviors to promote a healthy mind I will express emotions in healthful ways I will use stress management skills I will seek help if I feel depressed I will use suicide prevention strategies when appropriate I will cope with loss and grief in healthful ways I will be resilient during difficult times

Health Goal 1: Develop Good Character Value: standard of belief Character: person’s use of self-control to act on responsible values A person who has good character has the self- control to delay gratification when appropriate People who have good character set limits for themselves, and their behavior reflects responsible values Good character will reflect on one’s self-esteem (self-worth)

Developing Good Character and Improving Self-Esteem Care for other people in the way you would like to be cared for Let other people know what helps you feel special Support the interests of family members and friends, and ask them to support your interests Ask family members and friends to tell you examples of your actions that have shown character Get plenty of exercise to generate feelings of well- being Pay attention to your appearance Make a list of responsible actions and review the list often Be a friend to yourself by enjoying activities (e.g., hobbies) Write your feelings in a journal Make spending time with your family members a priority

Health Goal #2: I Will Interact in Ways that Help Create a Positive Social-Emotional Environment Social-emotional environment is the quality of the contacts a person has with the people with whom they interact Social-emotional boosters (encouragement and/or support) help promote a positive social- emotional environment Social-emotional pollutants cause a negative social-emotional environment and should be avoided, if possible

Strategies to Improve the Social-Emotional Environment Minimize contact with people who put you down Use positive self- statements if you are with a person/group who are negative Spend time with a mentor Join a support group Expand the network of people with whom you communicate needs, wants, and emotions Give others social- emotional boosters

Health Goal #3: I Will Develop Healthful Personality Characteristics An individual’s unique pattern of characteristic = Personality Behavior or attitude affects personality Other influences include: Heredity Environment Who you have contact or influences with affects personality

Health Goal #4: I Will Choose Behaviors to Promote a Healthy Mind Mental alertness does the following: Allows quick and watchful actions Provides interest in what’s going on in your life Allows understanding of providing mental exercise as well as physical concepts Creates the ability to learn continuously about new ideas and methods Mentally healthy people…. Feel good about themselves Have satisfying relationships Set realistic goals Can cope with disappointments

Addiction A compelling need to take a drug or engage in a specific behavior Can cause physical harm, jeopardize safety, harm relationships, cause legal and financial problems

Signs of Addiction 1) Having a compelling need to take a drug/engage in a behavior 2) Taking a drug/engaging in behavior instead of dealing with feelings of anxiety, depression, boredom, or loneliness 3) Feeling bad about oneself after taking a drug/engaging in a behavior 4) Taking a drug/engaging in a behavior even when there are negative consequences 5) Trying to stop taking a drug or engaging in a behavior but being unable to do so

Types of Addiction Drug Eating disorders Exercise Gambling Nicotine Perfectionism Relationship Sexual in nature Shopping Television Thrill seeking Workaholism

Getting Help for Addiction Formal interventions Individual therapy Group therapy Family therapy Hospitalization

Codependence Issues Codependence is a compulsion to control, take care of, and rescue people by fixing their problems and minimizing their pain Enablers are people who support the harmful behaviors of others People with codependence issues could benefit from: Support groups Individual therapy Family therapy

Mental Disorders Mental/emotional condition that makes it difficult for a person to live in a normal way Cause is functional (environmental, stress related, poor coping skills) or organic (physical injuries or illness) Six categories of mental disorders: Affective -Anxiety Dissociative -Personality Somatoform -Schizophrenia

Affective Disorders Involve extreme moods Cause is unknown 3 types Clinical depression Bipolar disorder Seasonal affective disorder

Anxiety Disorders Disorder in which real or imagined fears prevent enjoyment of life, leading to possible panic attacks Types General anxiety disorder (GAD)] Phobias Obsessive compulsive disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder

Dissociative Disorders Disorder in which a person has memory loss, confused identity, or more than one identity Two types: Amnesia (inability to recall past) Dissociative identity disorder (two or more personalities within the same person)

Personality Disorders Disorder in which a person’s patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting interfere with daily living Types: Antisocial (conflict with society) Avoidant (avoids social contact) Dependent (cannot function without assistance from others) Histrionic (emotional outbursts) Narcissistic (boastful and conceited) Passive-aggressive (overly compliant to mask anger)

Somatoform Disorders Symptoms of disease for which no physical cause can be found Two types 1) Hypochondria- worried about illness 2) Conversion disorder-health changes due to a result of emotional state

Schizophrenia Disorder in which there is a split or breakdown in logical thought processes Split results in unusual behavior Paranoia results as well as delusional thinking

Help for Mental Disorders Formal interventions Medical evaluations Medications Support groups Long-term recovery plans

Concepts of Expressing Emotions in Healthful Ways Communication is the sharing of feelings, thought, information with another person Healthful ways to express feelings to promote a healthy mind and body are: “I” messages Active listening Nonverbal communication

Anger Management Skills Keep an anger self- inventory Use self-statements Use “I” vs. “you” messages Write a letter Write in a journal Reduce the effects of anger cues by exercising Use safe physical actions to blow off steam Keep a sense of humor Rehearse what to do in situations that you know are your anger triggers Talk with a parent/mentor

Health Goal #6: I Will Use Stress Management Skills Identify the following terms Stress Stressor Eustress Distress

General Adaptation Syndrome Three stages: -Alarm (fight-or-flight syndrome) -Resistance (homeostasis) -Exhaustion (illness or disease concept)

Stress Can Affect Status of Ten Areas of Health in One or More Areas Mental and Emotional Health Family and Social Health Growth and Development Nutrition Personal Health and Physical Activity Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Communicable and Chronic Disease Consumer and Community Health Environmental Health Injury Prevention and Safety

Stress Management Skills Use responsible decision-making skills Get enough sleep Participate in physical activity Use a time-management plan Write in a journal Change your outlook Have close friends Talk with parents Help others Express affection in proper ways Care for pets Keep a sense of humor

Health Goal #7: I Will Seek Help if I Feel Depressed Types of depression Minor depression Dysthymic disorder Major depression It is estimated that 8 percent of teens have symptoms of depression

Symptoms of Childhood/Adolescent Depression Increased irritability Being bored Outbursts of shouting, complaining, or crying Poor school performance or frequent absences Fear of death Alcohol or substance abuse Frequent nonspecific physical complaints

Causes of Depression Inability to cope with a life crisis Changes in brain structure Genetic predisposition Low serotonin levels Traumatic family events Physical illness/disorders Alcohol or other drug use

Risks of Depression School performance Social isolation Drug addiction Other addictions Physical illnesses Mental disorders Suicide attempts

Treatment for Depression Physical exams Therapy Medication

Anger and Depression Can lead to: Inability to cope Illness Family patterns Alcohol/drug use Suicide attempts (parasuicide)

Health Goal #8: I Will Use Suicide Prevention Strategies When Appropriate 1) Know suicide hotline numbers 2) Know what to do when a person feels depressed 3) Help the person build a network of support 4) Get the person involved in rewarding activities 5) Know what to do if someone shows warning signs of suicide

Health Goal #9: I Will Cope with Loss and Grief in Healthful Ways Grief is an intense emotional suffering caused by loss Causes of grief are: Changes in the family -Changes in living condition Death of a friend -Suicide Death of a well-known person -Tragedies in the news The end of something special -Holidays

Healthful Ways to Respond to a Loss There are no rules about grieving Each person grieves in his/her own way/method Crying is a healthful expression of emotions and helps release bottled-up tension Responses to grief are based on: Who we are Whom or what we have lost How much day-to-day life has changed

Health Goal #10: I Will Be Resilient in Difficult Times A life crisis is an experience that causes a high level of stress To be resilient is to be able to adjust, recover, bounce back, and learn from difficult experiences

Resiliency Skills Most people respond to a life crisis by working through 5 emotional responses (Kubler-Ross,1997) Denying Being angry Bargaining Being depressed Accepting

Mental and Emotional Health Chapter 6 Mental and Emotional Health