1. Stress/Depression/Mental Disorders Chapter 3 and 4

2. What is Stress? The response of your body and mind to being challenged or threatened. Eustress=positive stress Distress=negative stress Stressor –4 general types: major life changes, catastrophes, everyday problems, and environmental problems

3. Stages of Stress Alarm Stage –Fight or Flight Response Resistance Stage Exhaustion Stage What are some warning signs of stress? –(behavioral, physical, emotional changes) Stress can trigger certain illnesses, reduce the body’s ability to fight an illness, and make some diseases harder to control

4. Optimist/Pessimist???? Glass half full? –Optimisim: the tendency to focus on the positive aspects of a situation Glass half empty? –Pessimism: the tendency to focus on the negative and expect the worst Perfectionist: a person who accepts nothing less than excellence. Resilience: the ability to recover, or “bounce back,” from extreme or prolonged stress

5. Coping with Stress How do you deal with stress in your life? –Time Management –Mental Rehearsal –Reduce Tension Physical Activity Relaxation Biofeedback – learning to control one of more body functions by monitoring their body’s responses

6. Change Your Thinking and Build Resilience Avoid negative thinking Humor –Take care of yourself –Build a support system –Take action –Help somebody –Confide in yourself –Go Easy on yourself –Put things in perspective –Find a Hassle-free Zone –Stick to your routines Reach out for Support - a parent or other adult relative - a teacher or a coach or religious leader - a school counselor or nurse - a sibling or friend

7. Mental Disorders An illness that affects the mind and reduces a person’s ability to function, to adjust to change, or to get along with others. Causes: –Physical factors –Heredity –Early Experiences –Recent Experiences

8. Anxiety and Other Disorders Anxiety – fear caused by a source you cannot identify or a source that doesn’t pose as much threat as you think –Generalized anxiety disorder –Phobias –Panic attacks –Obsessive-compulsive disorders –Post-traumatic stress disorders Mood Disorder – experiences with extreme emotions that make it difficult to function well in daily life –Depression=extreme sadness –Bipolar disorder Schizophrenia Impulse-control disorders Personality disorders

9. Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa –Not eating enough food to maintain a healthy body weight Extreme weight loss Slowed heart beat and breathing rates Dry skin Lowered body temp. Growth of fine body hair Bulimia –Uncontrolled eating binges followed by purging, or removing, the food from their bodies Binge Eating Disorder –Regularly having an uncontrollable urge to eat large amounts of food Excessive weight gain Unhealthy dieting

10. Depression and Suicide Clinical Depression –Mood disorder of extreme sadness and feeling hopeless for months (long time) Change in appetite, change in sleep patterns, change in activity level, loss of interest in usual activities, loss of energy, hopelessness/boredom, crying/easily annoyed, repeated thoughts of death and suicide

11. Depression/Suicide…cont. Risk Factors: –A parent or 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 previous bout of depression –A sense of hopelessness

12. Depression/Suicide…cont. Self-Injury –Cutting: the use of a sharp object to intentionally cut or scratch one’s body deep enough to bleed –Self-injury is an unhealthy way to cope with emotions, stress, or traumatic events

13. Suicide Prevention Suicide: the intentional killing of oneself Risk Factors: Mood disorders, such as depression, are a major risk factor –A previous suicide attempt or a family history –Having both a mental disorder and a substance abuse disorder –Feelings of hopelessness or isolation –Lack of access to mental health treatment –Being influenced by the suicide of family members, peers, or celebrities

14. Suicide…cont. Cluster suicides: a series of suicides that occur within a short period of time in the same peer group or community Acknowledge warning signs Help others Help yourself

15. Treatment of Mental Disorders Mental Health Professionals –Psychiatrists –Clinical Psychologists –Social Workers –Mental Health Counselors Kinds of Treatment –Psychotherapy: Insight Therapy, Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy, Group Therapy –Drug Therapy –Hospitalization