Self-Esteem and Mental Health
How frequently do you engage in the following behaviors? SCORING: 1 = never 2 = occasionally 3 = most of the time 4 = all of the time 1. I praise myself when I do a good job. 2. I do what I know is right, even if others use pressure to try to stop me from doing the right thing. 3. I am confident enough to try new things, even if I might fail at them. 4. I ask people for help if I need it. 5. I like to volunteer to help others when I can. 6. I concentrate on my strengths and work to improve my weaknesses.
Point Ranges: 19 or more points: You show respect for yourself and others and probably have high self-esteem. 10-18 points: You probably have a healthy self-esteem but could make improvements in behavior to self and others. 9 points or less: You should be working hard to make improvements in how they show respect for yourself and others.
Self-Esteem and Mental Health Contents Section 1 Building Your Self-Esteem Section 2 Using Good Communication Skills Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders
Self-Esteem and Mental Health Section 1 Building Your Self-Esteem
Section 1 Building Your Self-Esteem What is Self-Esteem? Self-esteem: how much you value, respect, and feel confident about yourself. Benefits of High Self Esteem: respect for yourself ability to reach goals willingness to try new things feel valued by others Risks of Low Self Esteem: Vulnerable to peer pressure More likely to make unhealthy decisions More likely to be critical of yourself and others Increased risk of depression and suicide
Section 1 Building Your Self-Esteem Self-concept: a measure of how you view yourself in society.
Section 1 Building Your Self-Esteem Your self-esteem affects the way you interpret negative messages from others. Try to view negative messages as constructive criticism. Your self-esteem does not have to suffer from the negative messages of others! You alone have the power to control your self-esteem and moods don t give others the power to control your self esteem! (Don t let other people dictate your mood/feelings!!!)
Section 1 Building Your Self-Esteem Tips for Improving Your Self-Esteem: Use Positive Self-Talk (say positive messages to yourself when in doubt) Act with Integrity (doing what you know is right, regardless of the situation) Choose Supportive Friends (your friends should support your values and goals) Accept Yourself (focus on your strengths and let go of weaknesses that you cannot change) Take Care of Your Health (feeling good, physically, can help your self-esteem)
Self-Esteem and Mental Health Section 2 Using Good Communication Skills
Section 2 Using Good Communication Skills Good Communication is Important 1. Prevents Misunderstandings (unclear communication can cause hurtful misunderstandings) 2. Building Healthy Relationships (communication is a tool for building good relationships) 3. Expressing Yourself (good communication skills help you let others know what you want and need and this will help you get what you want out of your relationships)
Section 2 Using Good Communication Skills Communication Styles 1. Passive (does not speak up when challenged or pressured) 2. Aggressive (hostile and unfriendly) 3. Assertive (when you communicate assertively, you express yourself in a direct, but respectful way)
Section 2 Using Good Communication Skills Speaking Skills Can Improve Communication: Voice Volume Speaking too loudly or too softly can send a bad message. Tone and Pitch (conveys your attitude) I Messages and You Messages An I message explains how you feel. A you message can seem like blame. Empathy (the ability to understand another person s feelings)
Section 2 Using Good Communication Skills Listening Skills Can Improve Communication 1. Active Listening lets the speaker know you are listening and clarifying anything confusing ex: saying uh-huh, right, yes, I see, etc. while listening 2. Paraphrasing using your own words to restate what someone else says ex: So what you re saying is.
Section 2 Using Good Communication Skills Body Language Can Affect Communication: What do you think each of the following may be communicating to others? WHILE SPEAKING Making poor eye contact Maintaining eye contact Scratching your head Touching your hand to your face Covering your mouth Standing straight and tall WHILE LISTENING Opening your eyes wide Making poor eye contact Maintaining eye contact Opening your mouth wide Squinting or scrunching your eyebrows in a V Crossing your arms
Self-Esteem and Mental Health Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health
Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health Mental Health Mental health: A state of mental well-being (you can cope with the demands of daily life) Characteristics of mentally and emotionally healthy people include: A sense of control Ability to endure failures and frustrations Ability to see events positively Can express emotions in a healthy way
Maslow s Hierarchy of Needs A list of the basic needs one must achieve on the way to selfactualization. Self-actualization is the achievement of the best that a person can be. Abraham Maslow believed that everyone has a drive to reach self-actualization.
Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health Expressing Emotions can make you HAPPIER! Emotion: a feeling produced in response to life experiences. Expressing emotions in a healthy way is important for your mental and emotional health. We learn to express our emotions by observing others (you re a product of your environment) You can RELEARN how to express emotions more constructively!
Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health Tips for Managing Emotions constructively: Talk it out with a friend or trusted adult, or in your own head Blow off steam with physical activity (can help you release negative energy and release endorphins) Be creative Creative activities also help release tension.
Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health Managing Emotions when you re angry: Frustration leads to anger (prevent or manage your frustrations before they get out of hand) Learn to recognize when you feel angry. When you do feel angry, try to calm down before taking action. Anger can ALWAYS be dealt with APPROPRIATELY!
Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health Managing Other Negative Emotions 1. Fear: (bad): can be debilitating (good): can protect you from real danger. use positive self-talk to get over fear. 2. Guilt: alerts you when you are acting against your values. do your best to right the wrong.
Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health Managing Other Negative Emotions 3. Jealousy fear that you will lose someone or something you love. talking about it and restructuring your thoughts and feelings is usually the best way to cope. 4. Loneliness feeling emotionally isolated from others.
Section 3 Mental and Emotional Health Defense Mechanisms: Unconscious thoughts or behaviors used to avoid (or cope with) unpleasant emotions. Most DM s do NOT fix the real problem (they re a coping skill that help us deal with difficult emotions temporarily). DM s can mask your true (uncomfortable) feelings. It s best to manage your emotions in a constructive, problem-solving, way (focus on the real issue and deal with that).
Self-Esteem and Mental Health Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders Bellringer What symptoms or behaviors do you associate with depression?
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders What Are Mental Disorders? Mental disorder: an illness that affects a person s: THOUGHTS EMOTIONS BEHAVIORS are often misunderstood. many are treatable. knowing the symptoms can help you understand mental disorders.
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders Symptoms of Mental Disorders: Symptom: a change in a person s body or mind, caused by a disease or disorder. The following are common symptoms of many mental disorders: Too much or too little sleep Feelings of extreme sadness Unexplained mood changes Drug or alcohol abuse Inability to concentrate Extreme anxiety or irrational fear Personality changes False perceptions of reality
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders Types of Mental Disorders.
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders DEPRESSION: sadness and hopelessness that keeps a person from carrying out normal, everyday activities. Symptoms: Lack of energy Withdrawal from people Loss of appetite or overeating Too much or too little sleep Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders If you are experiencing depression 1. Face the problem and seek professional help. 2. Identify the real problem loneliness? a loss of something significant? (ex: loved one, job, etc) chemical imbalance? 3. Take action change negative thinking seeking support from others increasing physical activity
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders ATTENTION DEFICIT / HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder in children It is a lifelong disorder Symptoms being frequently inattentive or impulsively hyperactive Causes unknown Can be treated (finding the best treatment can be difficult)
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders ANXIETY DISORDERS: fear-based can keep you from taking part in daily activities Phobias (extreme fear of something that poses no real danger) PANIC DISORDERS: extreme terror and panic attacks OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER: characterized by uncomfortable thoughts called obsessions repetitive behaviors called compulsions
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders Causes of Mental Disorders: Some develop from traumatic or stressful life experiences. Some can be inherited. Some are caused by physical disorders or injuries.
Section 4 Understanding Mental Disorders Many mental disorders can be treated or cured Treatments: Psychotherapy--especially useful in treating mental disorders caused by traumatic experiences. Group therapy--a licensed therapist leads a group of people who may have a similar disorder. Medication--can also help in the treatment of some mental disorders.
End of Chapter 3