Medication Classes
This class of medication treats symptoms including: low energy, loss of pleasure, changes in appetite and/or sleep, concentration problems, preoccupation with guilt or death, hopelessness, and helplessness
Antidepressants
Examples: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Remeron
This drug class/substance is the single most widely abused in the world. It can lower inhibitions, as well as impair judgement, perception, and reaction time. It is a central nervous system depressant.
Alcohol
An emotional response to a distressing event.
Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.
Trauma
An intervention in which one learns how to pay full attention to the present moment, rather than focusing on the past or future.
Mindfulness training
People with mental health problems are more violent and unpredictable than others without diagnosed conditions.
Fiction
The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. Most people with mental illness are not violent and only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.
SAMHSA (2023)
This class of medication is used for bipolar or other mood disorders. It can treat mania and depression.
Mood stabilizers
Example: Lithium
*Anticonvulsants may also be used to treat mood disorders - examples of these include Depakote, Lamictal, and Neurontin
This class of drug is known to be highly addictive. They serve as pain killers, but can also can cause feelings of intense pleasure. Examples include: heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone
Opioids
A mental state involving significant problems with reality testing. It is characterized by issues with perception, cognition and processing, and emotions. Symptoms include: delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech.
Psychosis
An intervention in which one learns to distinguish the difference between what is happening in one's own mind from what is happening in the outside world (and is based in reality or fact).
Reality-testing
Personality weakness or character flaws cause mental health problems. People with mental health problems can snap out of it if they try hard enough.
Fiction
Mental health problems have nothing to do with being lazy or weak and many people need help to get better. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
This class of medication can treat symptoms including: hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, paranoia, lack of motivation or energy, and impaired social interaction
Antipsychotics
Examples: Zyprexa, Haldol, Clozaril, Seroquel, Risperdal
Drugs in this class are used to treat a wide variety of psychiatric and sleep conditions, but they are very commonly abused. Examples include: Ativan, Valium, Xanax
Benzodiazepines
The capacity to gain an accurate, deep understanding of oneself - i.e. strengths, limitations, diagnosis
Insight
A type of therapy which is used to confront fears or phobias. The therapist will slowly expose you to the things that provoke fear or anxiety, while providing guidance on how to cope with them in the moment.
Exposure therapy
About half of all chronic mental illnesses begin by age fourteen.
Fact
46% of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14.
(Mental Health America 2020)
This class of medication can treat symptoms including: nervousness, panic, fear, hyperventilation, nausea, and tremulousness. These medications may be habit-forming and should not be used with alcohol or other sedating drugs. They are usually for short-term use but should not be stopped abruptly, otherwise you may experience withdrawal.
Antianxiety medications (benzodiazepines)
Examples: Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Librium, Klonopin
This class of drug is the second most widely abused in the world. They can create feelings of elation, and are becoming increasingly legal in more states. However, they can also negatively impact mental and physical functioning. Examples: marijuana, hashish
Cannabinoids
Exaggerated changes in mood, which often happen quickly. These strong emotions can be a disproportionate response to something that happened, but other times there might be no trigger at all. The person experiencing this may feel like they do not have control over their emotions.
Lability
An intervention that involves challenging negative thought patterns. Once you are aware of these patterns, your therapist may teach you how to reframe thoughts to become more positive and productive.
Cognitive restructuring
Addiction is a lack of willpower.
Fiction
Experts consider drug use disorders to be chronic diseases. Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Like other chronic diseases (eg, diabetes, congestive heart failure), substance dependence has no cure, though may be managed through long-term intervention.
CDC (2022)
This class of medication is used to treat children, adolescents, or adults with ADHD.
Stimulants
Examples: Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine
Drugs in this class alter the thinking processes and perception of those who take them. This may lead to significant distortions and fragmentations of reality. Examples include: LSD (acid), Psilocybin (mushrooms), PCP
Hallucinogens
The legal process in which a person diagnosed with a psychiatric illness is brought in for emergency evaluation, following aggressive, erratic, bizarre, suicidal, or otherwise dangerous behavior.
Emergency Petition
An intervention in which one learns how to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs in respectful ways. In can be an effective treatment for depression, social anxiety, or problems resulting from unexpressed anger.
Assertiveness training
Youth in detention are 10 times more likely to suffer from psychosis than youth in the community.
Fact
Nami (2021)
Fazel and Langstrom (2008)