Chapter 2 Lecture Health: The Basics Tenth Edition Promoting and Preserving Your Psychological Health
OBJECTIVES Define each of the four components of psychological health, and identify the basic traits shared by psychologically healthy people. Learn what factors affect your psychological health; discuss the positive steps you can take to enhance psychological well-being. Identify psychological disorders, such as anxiety disorders and depression, and explain their causes and treatments. Explain the different types of treatments and mental health professionals, and examine how they can play a role in managing mental health disorders.
What Is Psychological Health? Psychological health includes mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of health.
Psychologically Healthy People Feel good about themselves Feel comfortable with other people and express respect and feel compassion toward others Control tension and anxiety Meet the demands of life Curb hate and guilt Maintain a positive outlook Value diversity Appreciate and respect nature To achieve these characteristics, the basic needs in our lives must be met.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Mental Health A mentally healthy person perceives life in realistic ways, can adapt to change, can develop rational strategies to solve problems, and can carry out personal and professional responsibilities.
Emotional Health Emotionally healthy people usually respond appropriately to upsetting events. Emotional health affects social and intellectual health. Emotional turmoil may seriously affect your ability to think, reason, and act rationally.
Characteristics of Psychologically Healthy and Unhealthy People
Social Health Socially healthy individuals enjoy a wide range of interactions with family, friends and acquaintances and are able to have healthy interactions with an intimate partner. They can listen, express themselves, and form healthy attachments. They act in socially acceptable and responsible ways and find the best fit for themselves in society.
Spiritual Health Spirituality is broader in meaning than religion and is defined as an individual's sense of peace, purpose, and connection to others, and the beliefs about the meaning in life. It goes beyond material values and is practiced in many ways. Spiritual health refers to the sense of belonging to something greater than physical or personal dimensions of existence.
Factors That Influence Psychological Health The family Social supports Community Self-efficacy and self-esteem Personality Life span and maturity
Learned Helplessness versus Learned Optimism Psychologist Martin Seligman proposed that people who continually experience failure may develop a learned helplessness in which they give up, and fail to take any action themselves. Learned optimism teaches that people can learn optimism just as they learned helplessness.
The Mind-Body Connection Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is the study of brain and behavior and how they affect the body's immune system. Happiness is a collective term for several states in which individuals embrace the world around them. Hopefulness, optimism, and contentment appear to reduce the risk of some chronic diseases.
Strategies to Enhance Psychological Health Find a support group. Complete required tasks. Form realistic expectations. Make time for you. Maintain physical health. Examine problems and seek needed help. Get adequate sleep.
When Psychological Health Deteriorates Stress, abusive relationships, anxiety, loneliness, financial upheavals, and other trauma can derail coping resources. Mental illnesses are disorders that disrupt thinking, feeling, moods, and behaviors and cause varying degrees of impaired functioning in daily living.
Mental Health Threats to College Students Mental health problems are common among college students and appear to be increasing. Most common disorders among students are mood disorders, personality disorders, and schizophrenia. Attention-deficit disorder is another growing mental health concern for students.
Mental Health Concerns of American College Students, Past 12 Months
Mood Disorders Chronic mood disorders are disorders that affect how you feel, such as persistent sadness or feelings of euphoria. Mood disorders include major depression, dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.
Major Depression Major or clinical depression is severe depression that entails chronic mood disorder, physical effects such as sleep disturbance and exhaustion, and mental effects such as the inability to concentrate.
Symptoms of Major Depression Sadness and despair Loss of motivation and interest Preoccupation with failures Difficulty concentrating Loss of sex drive Sleeping too much or too little; insomnia Feeling agitated Withdrawal from friends and family Diminished or increased appetite Significant weight loss or weight gain
Types of Depression Dysthymic disorder is a less severe type of depression that is milder, chronic, harder to recognize, and often characterized by fatigue, pessimism, or a short temper. Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating mania and depression; also called manic depression. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs in the winter months, when sunlight levels are low.
Depression in College Students Depression can be a major obstacle to academic success. Students who have weak communication skills, who find that college isn't what they expected, or who find that people they've known seem different often have difficulties. Of college students, 8.3% report having been diagnosed with depression.
What Causes Mood Disorders? An interaction between multiple factors including biological differences, hormones, inherited traits, life events, and early childhood trauma Several types of depression, including bipolar disorder, appear to have a genetic component. Depression can be triggered by serious loss, and severe life events.
Anxiety Disorders Anxiety disorders are mental illnesses characterized by persistent feelings of threat and worry in coping with everyday problems. Anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem in the United States, affecting more than 18% of all adults.
Types of Anxiety Disorders Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) sufferers are consummate worriers who develop a debilitating level of anxiety. Panic disorders are characterized by panic attacks, an acute anxiety reaction that brings on an intense physical reaction. Phobic disorders involve persistent and irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation.
Types of Anxiety Disorders (cont.) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) results in individuals who feel compelled to perform rituals over and over again. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, serious accident, or combat.
What Causes Anxiety Disorders? Biology some scientists trace the origin of anxiety to the brain and its functioning. Environment anxiety can be a learned response. Social and cultural roles may also be a factor in the risks for anxiety.
Personality Disorders Characterized by inflexible patterns of thought and beliefs that lead to socially distressing behavior Three types Paranoid personality disorder involves pervasive, unfounded suspicion and mistrust of other people. Narcissistic personality disorder is an exaggerated sense of self-importance and self-absorption. Borderline personality disorder is characterized by impulsiveness and risky behavior such as gambling sprees, unsafe sex, drug use, and daredevil driving.
Schizophrenia Affects about 1% of the U.S. population. Characterized by alterations of the senses Inability to sort incoming stimuli and make appropriate responses An altered sense of self Radical changes in emotions, movements, and behaviors
Comparison of Two Brains <Insert image page 42>
Suicide: Giving Up on Life More than 34,000 suicides are reported each year. College students are more likely to attempt suicide.
Warning Signs of Suicide Recent loss and seeming inability to let go of grief A history of depression Change in personality, such as sadness, withdrawal, irritability, anxiety Change in behavior, such as inability to concentrate, loss of interest Sexual dysfunction
Warning Signs of Suicide (cont.) Expressions of self-hatred Change in sleep patterns and/or eating habits A direct statement about committing suicide An indirect statement such as ''You won't have to worry about me any more'' Final preparations Preoccupations with death themes Marked change in personal appearance
Preventing Suicide Monitor warning signals. Take threats seriously. Let the person know how much you care about him or her. Listen. Ask directly, ''are you thinking of hurting or killing yourself?'' Do not belittle the person's feelings. Help the person think about alternatives to suicide. Tell your friend's spouse, partner, parents, siblings, or counselor.
Seeking Professional Help for Psychological Problems Seek help if You feel that you need help You begin to withdraw from others You have hallucinations You feel inadequate or worthless or that life is not worth living Your daily life seems to be nothing but a series of repeated crises You are considering suicide You turn to drugs or alcohol to escape your problems You feel out of control You may find some books helpful, but be cautious when turning to self-help books.
Mental Illness Stigma Stigmas are negative stereotypes about groups of people. Very few people who suffer with mental illness are dangerous; most live independently and are productive members of society. The stigma of mental illness often leads to feelings of shame and guilt, loss of selfesteem, and a sense of isolation and hopelessness.
Getting Evaluated for Treatment If you are considering treatment for psychological problems, have a credentialed health professional conduct a thorough examination first consisting of A physical check-up A psychiatric history A mental status examination Once physical factors are ruled out, you may decide to consult a psychological health professional.
What to Expect in Therapy Before meeting, briefly explain your needs. Ask about fees. The first visit is an oral and mental sizing up between you and the therapist. The therapist will want to take down your history and details about the problems that have brought you to therapy. Be open and honest. Do not expect the therapist to tell you what to do or how to behave. The responsibility for improved behavior lies with you.
Treatment Models Cognitive therapy focuses on the impact of thoughts and ideas on our feelings and behavior. Behavioral therapy focuses on what we do. Therapy uses the concepts of stimulus, response, and reinforcement to alter behavior patterns.