1. Mental Health

2. Mental Health - Having an overall positive outlook on life - Comfortable with yourself and others - Able to cope with life’s challenges and demands * Everyone’s mental health has its ups and downs. * In order to function at your highest level, you MUST feel good mentally as well as physically.

3. Think about these in relation to yourself: Signs of Good Mental Health –Realistic about their strengths and weaknesses –Responsible for their personal behavior –Avoid high risk behaviors, such as drug use –Are open-minded and flexible. –Are fun loving and able to relax alone or with others –Respect both their own and others needs –Respect everyone’s value as human being –Express their emotions in way that do not hurt themselves or others –Invest time and energy into nourishing relationships –Put their talents and abilities to good use –View change as a challenge and an opportunity KEY POINT: realize that you have no real control over how others feel and act, you only have control over how you act.

4. Self Esteem/Self Image The confidence and worth that you feel about yourself It is directly related to your general level of wellness –How you feel mentally and physically determines how you take care of yourself. 2 main sources of Self Esteem : 1.Feedback 2.Self Talk

5. 1.Feedback- Messages from others that indicate who they think you are or what they think you are like. 2.self talk- messages you give yourself –Negative self talk can (and does) erode your self- esteem as much and sometimes even more than negative feedback from others. Is yours positive or negative? If negative: CHANGE IT! When you make a mistake, accept it as part of being human and try to learn and grow from the experience.

6. Ways to Boost Self Esteem List your assets or strengths. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people Find something that you love to do, and do it frequently Stop making life a contest Help someone else Keep trying

8. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow organized human needs into a pyramid. Maslow states that although everyone has needs, some are more basic than others. **These lower needs must be satisfied before higher level needs can be met. ** **This is an ever- changing, LIFELONG PROCESS**

9. Personality- complex set of characteristics that makes you unique and sets you apart from everyone else. –It includes your emotional make-up, attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, and more. –Your personality began taking shape before you were actually born. 3 main factors of personality: 1.Heredity –Biological traits genetically pasted on from parents 2.Environment/Modeling –Copying behaviors of those around you/ learned behaviors 3.Behavior –THIS is where YOU have the MOST control –How you make decisions, what decisions you make, and what actions you take can make all the difference in the world in the quality of your life. –(see class website for a great online personality test)

10. Emotions Signals that tell your mind and body how to react. –But YOU are in CHARGE of HOW to HANDLE your reaction! –No aspect of our mental life is more important to the quality and meaning of our existence than emotions.

11. Examples of Emotions and Life When you are in a dangerous situation, emotions such as fear can trigger the body and mind to protect you Joy can prompt the release of brain chemicals that not only cause warm, happy feelings, but also promote mental health. Anger can cause rise in heart rate, perspiration, and tightening of the muscles of the stomach. If no emotional outlet is found for some of this tension, it builds up inside, eventually taking a toll on your health. Guilt is one of the most destructive emotions, it is important to get at the underlying source and address that issue. The sooner you take action, the better. One way of avoiding this vicious circle is by resisting doing something you know is wrong in the first place. During the teen years, it is normal to experience rapid changes in emotions

12. Guilt: what’s so bad about it? Guilt is often associated with: –blame, –Shame –Self punishment “I feel badly….I don’t deserve good things, etc” –Unresolved guilt can lead to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, drug abuse, etc

13. Positive Emotions Positive emotions express an attempt or an intention to Include others. –Working on learning more viewpoints, interacting more with others, enjoying making things better. –Fueled by an underlying desire for enjoyment and unity. Examples: interest, enthusiasm, laughter, empathy, action, curiosity.

14. Negative Emotions Negative emotions express an attempt or intention to exclude. –Strengthening one's own position at the expense of others. –Keeping bad stuff away, destroying what is perceived as a threat. –Fueled by an underlying fear of the unknown, a fear of the actions of others, and a need to control them or stop them to avoid being harmed. Examples: apathy, grief, fear, hatred, shame, blame, regret, resentment, boredom, anger, hostility.

15. Handling Emotions Healthfully (step by step) 1.Look below the surface of your emotion. –Ask yourself: What is this feeling really about? –Do I have any control over what caused this feeling? –Consider whether or not this feeling or situation will really matter so much tomorrow, next week, or next year. –Do not take action on a strong feeling until both your head and your heart have investigated what’s going on and what’s at stake. 2.Remind yourself that feelings are just feelings, they are not facts. 3.Keep in mind that a strong feeling can be a useful signal. Listen to it while responding in a healthy way. –Use positive feelings to inspire you. Use upsetting ones to motivate you to change. –Remember that you are not alone. All human beings have strong feelings. 4.If the feeling does not go away, seek help from a trusted person, or professional.

16. Your Outlook on Life Are you a pessimist, realist or an optimist? –Your answer to this question-your outlook on life- can mean the difference between good and poor emotional health. –While pessimists tend to view negative events as permanent and far-reaching, –optimists see negative events as more temporary. –Realist tend to focus on reality, and see a situation for what it is. Good news for pessimists: – You can CHANGE your outlook simply by choosing to! –If your behavior is causing the trouble, change it. –Get support. Instead of seeing a stressful situation as a crisis, try to see it as a challenge.