Mental Health

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Mental Health
Unit 2 (1)
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Mental health is
The state of being free from mental
disturbances that limit functioning.
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If you know of someone who has been diagnosed
with a mental disorder, how does the disorder
impact their ability to function? (How is their
daily life impacted?)
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Keep in mind that The function of a healthy
brain is to respond to continuous stimuli in a
manner that ensures our survival.
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Lets take a look 7- Step Process of mental
function
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• Stimulus occurs
• The stimulus may be a thought, dream, something
  you see, hear, smell, taste, touch, etc.)
• Our brain is continuously bombarded by stimuli

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Stimuli are constantly bombarding us How many
stimuli can you identify from this short movie
clip?
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2. We give meaning to the stimulus. (Whats our
interpretation or perception?) Not everyone
interprets a stimulus the same way.. Snake Clown
Police Car Santa Claus Ringing Bell Big
Dog Siren Smell of alcohol Smell of Burger King
as you drive by Carbonated Drinks
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Whats your perception of the following
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3. An emotional response follows (Are you
indifferent, sad, anxious, scared, happy?) The
emotion you feel depends on your interpretation
(perception) of the stimulus. Examples?
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4. Your brain immediately releases chemicals
(neurotransmitters) in response to the
emotion (dopamine, endorphins, serotonin,
acetylcholine, epinephrine...)
The chemical release is necessary in order to
trigger the physiological changes that will be
necessary to prepare the body to respond
effectively. The amount released is relative to
the intensity of the emotion. Re-uptake of the
neurotransmitter occurs after the release.
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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!
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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 can often be controlled.
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7. Outcome
Did you respond effectively to the stimulus?
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On your own In your packet, read through the
example for how the 7 steps may work in a traffic
situation. Underline the part or the statement
that indicates the response is taking place.
The first one has been done for you. You have
one minute.
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Lets see how you did.

• 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. Marys adrenaline glands release a
  small bit of adrenaline
• RELEASE and cortisone her brain releases
  a small bit of endorphins.
• PHYSIO- 5. Marys muscles become tense and
  heart speeds up a
• LOGICAL small bit in response to the
  release of neurotransmitters
• RESPONSE
• 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.

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On your own Complete the example for the tardy
bell ringing..
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Stress
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The 7 Steps Apply
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• 1. Stimulus (stressor)
• 2. You interpret the stimulus as either
• a. Demanding (Youre required to confront
  or avoid)
• b. Threatening (Youre 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?

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The pituitary and hypothalamus glands of the
brain are the primary releasers of endorphins.
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Cortex releases cortisol, also known as
cortisone.
The medulla releases norepinephrine, also known
of as adrenaline
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• In a modern/industrialized world, most
  stressors we face are of the demanding type.

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In a war-torn or less civilized area a higher
percentage of stressors that peopleface are
threatening.
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• Video clip

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How Do I Reduce my Stressors? (remember
the 4 Ps..)
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1. Change your Perspective

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

4 Ps of Stress Management
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2. Begin to Prioritize
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.

• 4 Ps of Stress Management

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My priorities today

• A study for Mondays quiz
• A babysit at 600 for the neighbors
• B take a shower tonight
• B watch my favorite show at 900
• C check my facebook site for messages
• C load some new pictures to facebook

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3. Purge some of the stressors from your life.
Are there any stressors that you can get rid of?

• 4 Ps of Stress Management

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4. Plan out a strategy for managing your daily
stressors.
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.
4 Ps of Stress Management
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Defense Mechanisms
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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.

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• 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.

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• Denial
• Refusing to accept and address the reality of the
  situation.

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Denial

• I dont have a drinking problem
• (when the reality is that drinking is causing
  many problems in the persons life and
  relationships..)

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Denial

• I didnt do it!
• (when the reality is that the person did do it
  and is afraid to face the consequences..)

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Denial

• Not My Son!
• (The reality is that the persons son was
  involved in an illegal incident along with his
  friends but when confronted about it the parent
  refuses to believe it..)

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Rationalization

• Creating excuses for a situation instead of
  admitting the reality of the situation.

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Rationalization

• The reason I drink is because of my stressful
  job!
• (when the reality is that the persons drinking
  would be a problem even if the person was laid
  off or unemployed)

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Rationalization

• I failed the test because the teacher didnt
  tell us there was one.
• (when the reality is that the person knew about
  the test but didnt study/or understand the
  material)

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Rationalization

• I didnt make the team because I was sick the
  day I tried out
• (The reality is that the persons skills still
  wouldnt have been good enough to make the team
  even if he hadnt been sick on the day of
  tryouts.)

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Displacement

• Redirecting your response to a situation toward
  someone who was totally uninvolved with the
  situation.

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Displacement

• Get out of my way!
• (Directing anger toward someone walking by you
  when youre angry with someone else)

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Displacement

• I love you sweety!
• (Someone just made you feel very happy but you
  dont feel comfortable responding to them so you
  express your delight toward the next friend you
  see)

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Displacement

• Youre 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 its time to do his homework.)

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Repression

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

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Repression

• The person was abused as a youngster but has no
  memory of it.

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Repression

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

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Regression

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

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Regression

• Ex. A teenager reverts to baby talk when talking
  to an intimidating adult

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Regression

• Ex. A potty-trained toddler begins wetting his
  pants and needing a diaper when a new baby comes
  home.

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Regression

• Ex. Dad acts like one of the kids when trouble
  happens instead of addressing the issue as the
  parent.

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Avoidance

• Staying away from a situation that causes you to
  feel threatened or uncomfortable.

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Avoidance

• Phone rings If its Jim tell him
  
• Im not here
• (the reality is that the person doesnt feel
  comfortable talking to Jim)

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Avoidance

• Ex You did something wrong that made someone mad
  and now you stay away from the person.

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Avoidance

• Ex You dont come to school because youre
  scared to have to give a presentation.

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Reaction Formation

• Expressing an emotion youre comfortable showing
  people rather than the one youre truly feeling.

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Reaction Formation

• Thats so funny!
• (The reality is that youre really upset at how
  someones being treated by a bully but laugh so
  that you dont get picked on, too)

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Reaction Formation

• Its no big deal
• (You act indifferent when the reality is that
  youre really scared/worried about the situation)

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Reaction Formation

• Ex Youre really nervous about a situation to
  the point of being petrified but you crack up
  laughing about it.

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Compensation

• Making up for a situation you feel guilty about
  or that you failed at.

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Compensation

• Pick out anything you want, honey
• (A parent feels guilty about not spending time
  with his child so buys him whatever he wants)

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Compensation

• You look great!
• (A girl feels guilty for talking behind someones
  back so gives the person a compliment next time
  she sees the person)

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Compensation

• Hey, did you hear the one about.?hee hee
• (A kid feels everyone must think hes dumb since
  he has no clue whats going on in math class so
  instead he gets positive attention during class
  by telling jokes)

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Projection

• Labeling someone to be the same as you when
  youre uncomfortable with your label and need to
  feel that youre not alone.

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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.)

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Projection

• You are beautiful!
• A girl feels so good about her own looks that she
  wants others to feel the same way.

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Projection

• I know youre cheating on me!
• (the reality is that the accuser is the one whos
  cheating and accuses his partner of cheating in
  order to feel better about himself)

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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.