Week # 6

Mental Health 

Notes referenced from or revision of: 

Pearson Health

by Pruitt, Allegrante,Prothrow-Stith

Chapter 4 pages: 80-109

Notes:

Dealing with Setbacks:

1. Think of a setback as an isolated event

   • Prevent the event from impairing every other aspect of your life. Focus on isolating it to a specific problem and thus a specific solution. ​

2. Recognize that a setback is temporary

   • "Is there a different path I can take to my goal"​, understand that the setback is not perminante nor are the emotions or stress associated with it.

3.  Become aware of your "self-talk"

   • How you talk to your self: "I am stupid"=negative self talk, " I am resourceful"​

4. Take Action

   • Do something to move forward​

Remember: that this is a solution for fixing the future not an attempt to fix the past.

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Eating Disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa: doesn't eat enough food to maintain a healthy body weight.

• Symptoms: extreme weight loss

• Health risks: Due to thinking they are overweight even when they are starving people with anorexia nervosa have the potential to starve themselves to death. 

• Risk Factors: the lack of mood regulating chemicals, low self-esteem, a strong desire to please others.

• Treatment: They tend to deny that there is a problem and thus need encouragement and support from a therapist and family. 

Bulimia: goes on uncontrolled eating binges followed by purging

• Symptoms: tooth decay, sore throat from throwing up. 

• Health Risks: Generally they maintain a weight within the normal range, purging may lead to dehydration, kidney damage and lack of vitamins and minerals

• Risk Factors/Causes: Using food to feel better or cope with an event

• Treatment: They are aware of their behavior but they are unable to control the behavior. Generally they are ashamed of the behavior and struggle to seek help but there are many useful treatments for this. 

Binge Eating Disorder: regularly have an uncontrollable urge to eat large amounts of food WITHOUT PURGING.

• Symptoms and Health Risks: Extreme weight gain which leads to greater risk of illness

• Risk Factors/Causes: avoidance technique for difficult events or emotions

• Treatment: Need therapy to control their emotions and their eating habits

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Depression and Suicide: 

• Clinical Depression: feelings of sadness or hopelessness for at least 6 months. 

• cutting: the use of a sharp object to intentionally harm one's self

• Suicide: the intentional killing of oneself

• Cluster suicides: a series of suicides that occur within a short period of time within the same peer group.

Depression:

• Signs of clinical depression (figure 10-page 95)

  • change in appetite: significant weight loss or gain

  • change in sleep patterns: difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much

  • Change in activity level:  sluggish (slow) or frantic (fast-paced)

  • loss of interest in usual activities

  • Loss of energy or always tired

  • hopelessness: boredom: guilt: worthlessness 

  • unexplained crying, easily annoyed

  • repeated thoughts of death and suicide 

  • body pains, headaches, digestive problems

  • Difficulty remembering details, concentrating on tasks, and making decisions 

• Risk Factors for Depression (page 95)

  • a parent of other close biological relative with a mood disorder​

  • a major life change or a prolonged stressful situation

  • being the victim of a violent crime or witnessing violence

  • a sense of hopelessness 

• Treatment for Depression

  • medication​

  • Coping mechanisms 

  • therapy 

Suicide: ​

• Protective Factors: These factors reduce the risk for suicide.  

  • Receiving treatment for a mental disorder​

  • Connecting with others

  • Establishing the belief in not committing suicide or having other options planned

• Risk Factors: 

  • a previous suicide attempt or a family history of suicide​

  • having both a mental disorder and substance abuse disorder

  • feelings of hopelessness or isolation

  • lack of access to mental health treatmenet

  • being influenced by the suicide of family members, peers or celebrities 

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