Unit 2 (1)
Mental Health
Mental health is…
“The state of being
free from mental
disturbances
that limit functioning.”
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?)
Keep in mind that:
The function of a
healthy brain is to
respond to continuous
stimuli in a manner
that ensures our
survival.
Let’s take a look:
7- Step Process of mental function
1. Stimulus occurs
The stimulus may be a thought, dream, something you
see, hear, smell, taste, touch, etc.)
Our brain is continuously bombarded by stimuli
Stimuli are constantly
bombarding us…
How many stimuli can you identify
from this short movie clip?
2. We give meaning to the stimulus.
(What’s our interpretation or perception?
How does our mind perceive the stimulus?)
Not everyone interprets a stimulus the same way:
We see a snake
We see a clown
We hear a police siren
We sit on Santa Claus’ lap
The tardy bell rings
We hear a dog bark
We enter the waiting room of the doctor
We smell of Burger King as we drive by
We feel carbonation on our tongue when drinking a beverage
What’s your perception of this performer?
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?
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.
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!
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.
7. Outcome
Did you respond effectively to the stimulus?
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….
Let’s 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. Mary’s adrenaline glands release a small bit of adrenaline
RELEASE
and cortisone; her brain releases a small bit of endorphins.
PHYSIO5. Mary’s 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.
On your own:
Complete the example for the tardy bell ringing..
Stress
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 releases
cortisol, also known
as cortisone.
The medulla
releases
norepinephrine, also
known of as
adrenaline
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 people
face 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
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 P’s of Stress Management
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 9:00
C – check my facebook site for messages
C – load some new pictures to facebook
3. Purge some of the
stressors from your life.
Are there any stressors that you
can get rid of?
4 P’s of Stress Management
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 P’s of Stress Management
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
“If it’s Jim tell him
I’m not here”
(the reality is that the person
doesn’t feel comfortable
talking to Jim)
Phone rings:
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.