mental health unit 2 (1). “the state of being free from mental disturbances that limit...

Mental Health

Unit 2 (1)

“The state of being free from mental

disturbancesthat limit functioning.”

Mental health is…

If you know of someone who has been diagnosed witha mental disorder, how

does the disorder limit their ability to function? (How is their daily life impacted?)

“The state of being free from mental Disturbances that limit functioning.”

Keep in mind that:

The function of a healthy brain is to enable us to

respond to continuous Internal and external stimuli in a

manner that ensures our survival.

Let’s take a look:

7- Step Process of mental function

Step One (1)A stimulus occurs

The stimulus may be a thought, dream, something you see, hear, smell, taste, touch, etc.)

Our brain is continuously bombarded by stimuli

The function of a healthy brain is to enable us to

respond to continuous stimuli in a mannerthat ensures our

survival.

Stimuli are constantly bombarding us…

How many stimuli is Katniss experiencing in this scene from

Hunger Games?

Step Two (2)

We give meaning to the stimulus.(What’s our interpretation or perception of the stimulus?)

What makes human being so different from one another?

We don’t all interpret stimuli the same……

What’s your perception of the following stimuli?

Step Three (3)

Emotional Response (Are you indifferent, sad, anxious, scared, happy?)

The emotion you feel depends on your interpretation (perception) of the stimulus.

Examples?

Step Four (4)

Your brain immediately releases chemicals (neurotransmitters)

in response to the emotion(dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, acetylcholine, epinephrine...)

This chemical release is necessary in order to trigger the physiological changes that will follow….

The amount released is relative to the intensity of the emotion. Re-uptake of the neurotransmitter occurs after the release.

How neurotransmitters work

Step Five (5)

A physiological response results from the release of neurotransmitters(heart rate, breathing, muscle tension, salivation, relaxation, etc…)

Keep in mind that the physiological response is not directly in your control!

Step Six (6)

A behavioral response occurs(running, thinking, speaking, moving, lifting, eating, laughing, yelling,

whispering, grinning, squinting, turning, flinching, etc.…)

Even though you may not be able to control your physiological response in step 5, your behavioral

response is often a matter of choice.

Step Seven (7)

Outcome

Do you respond to the stimulus effectively?

Let’s look at the example in your packet

STIMULUS 1. Mary is driving and sees the light ahead turn yellow.

STIMULUS 1. Mary is driving and sees the light ahead turn yellow.

MEANING 2. Mary determines that the yellow light means she has to prepare to stop.

STIMULUS 1. Mary is driving and sees the light ahead turn yellow.

MEANING 2. Mary determines that the yellow light means she has to prepare to stop.

EMOTION 3. Mary feels a bit anxious and a sense of urgency.

STIMULUS 1. Mary is driving and sees the light ahead turn yellow.

MEANING 2. Mary determines that the yellow light means she has to prepare to stop.

EMOTION 3. Mary feels a bit anxious and a sense of urgency.

CHEMICAL 4. Mary’s adrenal glands release a small bit of adrenaline RELEASE and cortisone; her brain releases a small bit of endorphins.

STIMULUS 1. Mary is driving and sees the light ahead turn yellow.

MEANING 2. Mary determines that the yellow light means she has to prepare to stop.

EMOTION 3. Mary feels a bit anxious and a sense of urgency.

CHEMICAL 4. Mary’s adrenal glands release a small bit of adrenaline RELEASE and cortisone; her brain releases a small bit of endorphins.

PHYSIO- 5. Mary’s muscles become tense and heart speeds up a LOGICAL small bit in response to the release of neurotransmittersRESPONSE

.

STIMULUS 1. Mary is driving and sees the light ahead turn yellow.

MEANING 2. Mary determines that the yellow light means she has to prepare to stop.

EMOTION 3. Mary feels a bit anxious and a sense of urgency.

CHEMICAL 4. Mary’s adrenaline glands release a small bit of adrenaline RELEASE and cortisone; her brain releases a small bit of endorphins.

PHYSIO- 5. Mary’s muscles become tense and heart speeds up a LOGICAL small bit in response to the release of neurotransmittersRESPONSE

BEHAVIOR 6. Mary raises her right foot from the gas pedal and switches RESPONSE over to the brake. She focusses on the light and intersection.

STIMULUS 1. Mary is driving and sees the light ahead turn yellow.

MEANING 2. Mary determines that the yellow light means she has to prepare to stop.

EMOTION 3. Mary feels a bit anxious and a sense of urgency.

CHEMICAL 4. Mary’s adrenaline glands release a small bit of adrenaline RELEASE and cortisone; her brain releases a small bit of endorphins.

PHYSIO- 5. Mary’s muscles become tense and heart speeds up a LOGICAL small bit in response to the release of neurotransmittersRESPONSE

BEHAVIOR 6. Mary raises her right foot from the gas pedal and switches RESPONSE over to the brake. She focusses on the light and intersection.

OUTCOME 7. Mary successfully stops at the red light.

As a class:

Jennifer is in English class. She has 20 minutes to complete an activity with the use of a Chrome Book. She takes one of the Chrome Books made available by the teacher and turns it on then waits for everything to load. When the log in screen appears she enters her user name and password then clicks enter. Nothing happens. She clicks again. Nothing happens. She figures that everything didn’t load properly. She becomes a bit anxious and annoyed. Her chest tightens and fills with a larger amount of air than usual. But, she’s pretty sure she knows what to do. She presses control-alt-delete simultaneously to re-start the computer, waits a few moments for everything to re-load, then enters her credentials again. Just as she had hoped, she was able to get logged on and was able to begin her work.

Number the series of events (1-7) as they follow the order of the mental health process.

____Jennifer gets logged on and is able to begin her work

____Jennifer feels her chest tighten and fills with a big breath of air

____Jennifer feels a bit anxious and annoyed

____Jennifer brain releases a neurotransmitter in response to her anxiousness and annoyance

____Jennifer figures everything didn’t load properly

____Jennifer clicks enter after logging on and nothing happens

____Jennifer re-starts the computer

On your own:

Complete the example for the tardy bell ringing..

1. Emotions are experienced during step ______ and expressed during step _____.

Emotions and their Significance Match each emotion to its description

Six Basic Emotions:

2._____Sadness3._____Anger4._____Scared5._____Happiness6._____Indifference7._____Compassion

a. An emotion that most often arises when one has a need that is not met or that has been violated. Related emotions are frustration, bitterness, resentment, jealousy, livid.b. An emotion most often arising when one relates to the needs of others and aims to care for others in a nurturing, caring manner. Related emotions are affection, empathy, sympathy.c. An emotion experienced when one perceives that s/he is being threatened. Related emotions are fear, timid, shy, terror, dread, horror, fright, anxiety, and forebodingd. The lack of an overt emotional response to a stimulus. The stimulus doesn’t impact the person in a manner that elicits an observable emotion.e. An emotion that allows internal grief to surface. A person has lost something, is missing something, or feels rejected. Related emotions

are despair, forlorn, misery, anguish, gloom, dejected, despondent, and unhappy.f. A person feels this emotion when his/her needs are being met or s/he is pleased with the outcome of an event. Related emotions are content, glad, joyful, cheerful, glee, bliss, delight.

Emotions and their Significance

Emotions are important for four reasons:

1. effective non verbal and verbal communication

Emotions and their Significance

Emotions are important for four reasons:

1. effective non verbal and verbal communication 2. build healthy relationships

Emotions and their Significance

Emotions are important for four reasons:

1. effective non verbal and verbal communication 2. build healthy relationships 3. for the safety of yourself and others

Emotions and their Significance

Emotions are important for four reasons:

1. effective non verbal and verbal communication 2. build healthy relationships 3. for the safety of yourself and others 4. self-awareness

Place the following modes of communication in order for most reliable to least reliable means of determining the emotion someone is experiencing:

words Tone of voice actionsFacial expressions

10. What do you predict would happen if step 3 of the 7 step process ceased to exist?

Emotional Intelligence

What is it?

Ted Talk

Emotional Intelligence

What is it?

The capacity of a person tounderstand himself and others

in a manner that fosters trust and respect in relationships.

Emotional Intelligence

Why is it important?

Emotional intelligence leads topositive outcomes in personal,

family, and careerrelationships.

Stress

What’s your opinion?What is stress?

How can stress be helpful?

How can it be harmful?

How has stress impacted you?

What’s your opinion?What is stress? Our response to a stimulus that we perceive as being demanding or threatening.

How can stress be helpful?

How can it be harmful?

How has stress impacted you?

What’s your opinion?What is stress? Our response to a stimulus that we perceive as being demanding or threatening.

How can stress be helpful?It helps us perform, meet the demands of life, and protect ourselves

How can it be harmful?

How has stress impacted you?

What’s your opinion?What is stress? Our response to a stimulus that we perceive as being demanding or threatening.How can stress be helpful?It helps us perform, meet the demands of life, and protect ourselves

How can it be harmful?Too many threats or demands in our lives at one time can overwhelm us physically and mentally.

How has stress impacted you?

What’s your opinion?What is stress? Our response to a stimulus that we perceive as being demanding or threatening.How can stress be helpful?It helps us perform, meet the demands of life, and protect ourselves

How can it be harmful?Too many threats or demands in our lives at one time can overwhelm us physically and mentally.

How has stress impacted you?

The 7 Steps Apply

1. Stimulus (stressor)

2. You interpret the stimulus as either:

a. Demanding (You’re required to confront or avoid)

b. Threatening (You’re required to fight or flee)

3. Emotional response

a. anxiety (if stressor is demanding)

b. fear (if stressor is threatening)

4. Brain releases:

a. endorphins (natural pain killer)

Adrenal glands release:

a. cortisone (inhibits swelling/inflammation)

b. adrenaline (activates an increase in power/energy)

5. Physiological response:

a. Heart rate respiration sweat production muscle tension

blood sugar, hyper alertness, constriction or dilation of blood vessels

6. Behavioral response:

a. fight (do you confront/face the stressor head on?)

b. flight (do you flee/avoid the stressor?)

7. Outcome: Do you survive or perform?

The pituitary and hypothalamus glands of the brain are the primary

releasers of endorphins.

Cortex releasescortisol, also known

as cortisone.

The medullareleases

norepinephrine, also known of asadrenaline

In a modern/industrialized world, most stressors we face are of the demanding type.

In a war-torn or less civilized area a higher percentage of

stressors that peopleface are threatening.

Video clip

How Do I Reduce my

Stressors?

(remember the 4 P’s…..)

1. Change your Perspective

Try to change the way you view situations (step 2) that you usually perceive to be threatening or demanding.

4 P’s of Stress Management

2. Begin to Prioritize

4 P’s of Stress Management

If you are facing many demands, take care of the most important demands first. You may think of them in terms of “A”, “B”,

and “C” priorities.

My priorities today:

A – study for Monday’s quiz

A – babysit at 6:00 for the neighbors

B – take a shower tonight

B – watch my favorite show at 9:00C – check my facebook site for messagesC – load some new pictures to facebook

3. Purge some of the stressors from your life.

4 P’s of Stress Management

Are there any stressors that you can get rid of?

4. Plan out a strategy for managing your daily stressors.

4 P’s of Stress Management

Make check lists, set an alarm to remind yourself of important timelines, keep a calendar with you to record commitments, plan out segments of time

during the day.

Defense Mechanisms

What are they?Why do people use them?

What? Defense mechanisms occur when we subconsciously use protective thoughts or behaviors during the behavioral response.

Why? We use defense mechanism when we are afraid of people, situations, or things.

Defense mechanisms can be:

1. Harmful, because they keep a

person from learning how to

accept the reality of a situation and/or

express emotions.

2. A typical response a person has

to an emotion/issue he is not

prepared to handle.

Denial

Refusing to accept and address the reality of the

situation.

Denial

“I don’t have a drinking problem”

(when the reality is that drinking is causing many problems in the

person’s life and relationships…..)

Denial

“I didn’t do it!”(when the reality is that the person

did do it and is afraid to face the consequences…..)

Denial

“Not My Son!”(The reality is that the person’s son

was involved in an illegal incident along with his friends but when confronted about it the parent

refuses to believe it…..)

Rationalization

Creating excuses for a situation instead of

admitting the reality of the situation.

Rationalization

“The reason I drink is because of my stressful

job!”(when the reality is that the person’s drinking would be a problem even if

the person was laid off or unemployed)

Rationalization

“I failed the test because the teacher didn’t tell us

there was one.”(when the reality is that the person

knew about the test but didn’t study/or understand the material)

Rationalization“I didn’t make the team because

I was sick the day I tried out”

(The reality is that the person’s skills still wouldn’t have been good enough to make

the team even if he hadn’t been sick on the day of tryouts.)

Displacement

Redirecting your response to a situation toward

someone who was totally uninvolved with the

situation.

Displacement

“Get out of my way!”

(Directing anger toward someone walking by you when you’re angry

with someone else)

Displacement

“I love you sweety!”(Someone just made you feel very

happy but you don’t feel comfortable responding to them

so you express your delight toward the next friend you see)

Displacement

“You’re always on my case. Leave me alone!”(The person is mad about how friends are treating him/her but

takes it out on a parent who reminds him that it’s time to do his

homework.)

Repression

Not allowing yourself to remember or think about a previous traumatic life

event.

Repression

The person was abused as a youngster but has

no memory of it.

Repression

As a youngster a person witnessed a murder but has no recollection of it.

Regression

Dealing with a situation with immature, childlike behavior instead of age-appropriate

behavior.

Regression

Ex. A teenager reverts to baby talk when talking to

an intimidating adult

Regression

Ex. A potty-trained toddler begins wetting his pants

and needing a diaper when a new baby comes

home.

Regression

Ex. Dad acts like one of the kids when trouble happens instead of

addressing the issue as the parent.

Avoidance

Staying away from a situation that causes you

to feel threatened or uncomfortable.

Avoidance

Phone rings: “If it’s Jim tell him

I’m not here”

(the reality is that the person doesn’t feel comfortable

talking to Jim)

Avoidance

Ex: You did something wrong that made

someone mad and now you stay away from the

person.

Avoidance

Ex: You don’t come to school because you’re

scared to have to give a presentation.

Reaction Formation

Expressing an emotion you’re comfortable

showing people rather than the one you’re truly

feeling.

Reaction Formation

“That’s so funny!”(The reality is that you’re

really upset at how someone’s being treated by a bully but laugh so that you

don’t get picked on, too)

Reaction Formation

“It’s no big deal”

(You act indifferent when the reality is that you’re really scared/worried about the situation)

Reaction Formation

Ex: You’re really nervous about a situation to the point of being petrified

but you crack up laughing about it.

Compensation

Making up for a situation you feel guilty about or

that you failed at.

Compensation

“Pick out anything you want, honey”

(A parent feels guilty about not spending time with his child so buys him whatever he wants)

Compensation

“You look great!” (A girl feels guilty for talking behind someone’s back so

gives the person a compliment next time she sees the person)

Compensation

“Hey, did you hear the one about….?”hee hee

(A kid feels everyone must think he’s dumb since he has no clue what’s going on in math class so instead he gets positive attention

during class by telling jokes)

Projection

Labeling someone to be the same as you when you’re uncomfortable with your

label and need to feel that you’re not alone.

Projection

“You are so fat!”(The reality is that a person

views herself as fat and feels better about herself

when she tells other people that they are fat.)

Projection

“You are beautiful!”

A girl feels so good about her own looks that she wants others to feel the

same way.

Projection

“I know you’re cheating on me!”

(the reality is that the accuser is the one who’s cheating and accuses his partner of

cheating in order to feel better about himself)

Projection

“You will never amount to anything!”

(the reality is the person delivering this message feels like a “loser” and wants the

other person to feel the same way, too.