1. Psychological Health Chapter Three
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2. Defining Psychological Health
Positive Psychology
Positive definition
Abraham Maslow’s “Toward a Psychology of Being” (1960’s)
Hierarchy of needs
Realism
Acceptance
Self-concept
Self-esteem
Autonomy
Authenticity
Capacity for intimacy
Creativity
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3. What Psychological Health is Not
Not the same as psychological normality
Mentally normal simply means being close to average
Psychological diversity
Range of ideas, lifestyles and attitudes
“Mentally ill” versus “Mentally healthy”
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4. Meeting Life’s Challenges
Growing Up Psychologically (Pg.66 Erickson)
Developing an adult identity
Developing intimacy
Developing values and purpose in your life
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5. Achieving Healthy Self-Esteem
Developing a Positive Self-Concept
Begins in childhood
Integration
Stability
Meeting Challenges to Self-Esteem
Notice your patterns of thinking
Avoid focusing on the negative
Develop realistic self-talk
Being Less Defensive
Being Optimistic
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6. Maintaining Healthy Self-Esteem
Maintaining honest communication
Assertiveness training
Dealing with loneliness
Dealing with anger
Managing your own anger
Dealing with anger in other people
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7. Psychological Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Simple, or specific, phobia
Fear of something definite
Most common and understandable
Social phobia
15 million Americans
Fear of humiliation or embarrassment while being observed by others
Panic disorders
Sudden unexpected surges in anxiety
Rapid and strong heart beat
Shortness of breath
Loss of physical equilibrium
Feeling of losing mental control
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8. Psychological Disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Reaction to future threats is to worry
Worries have taken over
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessions – recurrent, unwanted thoughts
Compulsions – repetitive, difficult-to-resist actions
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Reaction to a severely traumatic event
Treating anxiety disorders
Medication
Psychological interventions
Cognitive-behavioral
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9. Mood Disorders Depression Demoralization Dysthymic disorder
Feeling of sadness and hopelessness
Loss of pleasure in doing usual activities
Poor appetite and weight loss
Insomnia or disturbed sleep
Restlessness or, alternatively, fatigue
Thoughts of worthlessness and guilt
Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide
Dysthymic disorder
Symptoms for longer than 2 years
Treating depression
Medications, therapy, electroconvulsive therapy
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
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10. Mood Disorders Mania and Bipolar Disorder Schizophrenia
Mania versus bipolar disorder
Treatment
Schizophrenia
Not rare
Uncertainty about causes
General characteristics
Disorganized thoughts
Inappropriate emotions
Delusions
Auditory hallucinations
Deteriorating social and work functioning
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11. Getting Help Self-help Peer counseling and support groups
Books
Writing a journal
Religious belief and practice
Social network
Peer counseling and support groups
Professional help
Determine the need
Types of psychotherapy
Choosing a mental health professional
Psychiatrists
Clinical psychologists
Social workers
Licensed counselors
Clergy
Treatment team
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12. Suicide and Self-Injury
Suicide statistics
Prevalence
Gender
Ethnicity
Age
Self-inflicted injury
Maladaptive coping strategy
Possible warning sign
See Figure 3-2 on suicide rates in the United States
See box “Depression, Anxiety, and Gender”
See box “Myths About Suicide”
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13. Suicide: Warning Signs & Risk Factors
Expressing the wish to be dead or revealing contemplated methods
Increasing social withdrawal/isolation
Sudden inexplicable lightening of mood
History of previous attempts
Suicide by a family member or friend
Readily available means of committing suicide
History of substance abuse or eating disorders
Serious medical problems
See Figure 3-2 on suicide rates in the United States
See box “Depression, Anxiety, and Gender”
See box “Myths About Suicide”
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14. Suicide Third leading cause of death for people ages 15-24 (scary)
Rarely occurs without any warning
Access to firearms may increase the risk, 83 percent of gun related deaths in the home are suicide.