Healthful Living Gunderson MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS Defined Affect

Healthful Living - Gunderson MENTAL HEALTH & ILLNESS

Defined: Affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Alters our natural brain chemistry! ⦿ Neurotransmitters ⦿ Three neurotransmitters: : chemicals in the brain that conduct 1. Norepinephrine: signals from one released when faced brain cell to the with stressful event. next. 2. Dopamine: associated with the reward system in the brain. 3. Serotonin: contributes to feelings of well being.

Bring on the challenges. . . ⦿ Mental health is NOT determined by the challenges a person faces but how they respond to these challenges. ⦿ What is your typical reaction when you are faced with a challenge? ⦿ Would you like to have a better outlet when faced with a challenging situation?

Mental Disorders: ⦿ Mood Disorders – ⦿ ● Experience 1 or 2 periods ● Average of on-set: of mania typically followed by a depressed period. ● Occurs equally in men and women. Mid 20’s ● Women experience depressive episodes twice as frequently. ⦿ Depression – ● Feelings of sadness or emptiness, a loss of interest or pleasure in typical activities, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, and reduced ability to concentrate. ● Lasting non-stop for 2 or more weeks. Bi-Polar Disorder – ⦿ Anxiety Disorders – ● Panic attack: apprehension or intense fear in the absence of real danger. ● Panic disorder: characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks.

Mental Disorders Continued: ⦿ Addiction – ● Mental disorder where there is a dependence on a substance or behavior. ● Physical dependence: body must have it to function. ● Psychological dependence: body thinks it needs it. ⦿ Psychotic Disorders ● Disorganized and disordered thinking and perceptions, bizarre ideas, hallucinations, often voices, and impaired functioning. ● Age of onset: Males early 20’s. Females late 20’s. ● In most cases symptoms of the disease can be controlled with medication.

Treatments Available: ⦿ Psychotherapy (counseling) – ● Vital to develop a positive interpersonal relationship between client and the professional. ● Therapist will provide you with a safe place to explore your thoughts and feelings. ⦿ Medications ● Antipsychotics: helps to block dopamine pathways to treat hallucinations and delusions. ● Antidepressants: most act on seratonin and norepinephrine. ○ Prozac, zoloft, and paxil ● Anti-anxiety: most common group is benzodiazepenes – which works as a sedative to reduce anxiety. ○ Valium, xanax, and ativan.

Overmedicated? ⦿ Do you believe we are an overmedicated country? ⦿ Insurance companies are often more likely to pay for medication than therapy. Because they are able to see results faster. ● However, often these results are short term. ⦿ What are some more natural ways to treat and potentially heal symptoms associated with mental illness?

Reducing the Stigma: Through Education Assignment: Create a informational flier about a mental illness. ⦿ Things to include: ⦿ ● Information about mental ● ● illness. And then extended info. on the mental illness that you are focused on. Myths Facts/Stats How to help a friend Pictures/graphics