Famous Users
This Smells Like Teen Spirit singer struggled with cooccurring mental health and addiction complications throughout his life. He used heroin, cocaine, and pills throughout his battle with depression and bipolar disorder before passing at only 27 years old.
Who is Kurt Cobain?
Persistent low mood lasting at least two weeks, accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, loss of interest in hobbies, changes in appetite, and feelings of hopelessness.
What is Major Depressive Disorder?
Name 3 different activities you can use as a distraction from any current feelings you may be struggling with.
Examples: exercise, journaling, going for a walk, listening to music
Mental illnesses are very uncommon.
False! Approximately 20 percent of Americans, or about one in five people over the age of 18, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
What is the standard medical word to describe an intense and occasionally disabling fear or reaction to a specific object or situation that often poses little actual danger? Example: fear of spiders
What is a phobia?
This actor started using marijuana at age 6, which spiraled into drug and alcohol use in adulthood. After bouncing between rehab and prison for years, he has maintained his sobriety since 2003. He is best known for his work in Iron Man.
Who is Robert Downey Jr.?
Excessive and uncontrollable worry about everyday things, lasting for at least six months, even when there's little or no reason to worry. Common symptoms include restlessness, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Name 1 unhealthy coping mechanism you have used in the past, then replace it with a healthy coping mechanism.
Examples:
self harm -> ripping paper into pieces;
substance use -> engaging in peer support
All forms of stress are harmful.
False! Eustress is a positive form of stress in that it’s short-term, motivates growth, and can be handled effectively with coping skills
Examples: playing sports, traveling, starting a new job
The ___ Questionnaire is a set of 10 questions that documents harmful experiences from your youth. Having a score of 4 or higher has been linked to increased chances for substance use, mental health concerns, and physical health conditions.
What is the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire?
This music legend, famous for hits such as Rocket Man and Tiny Dancer, struggled with cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol use to manage the complex emotions associated with being simultaneously intensely shy and a music superstar. He’s been sober for over 30 years.
Who is Elton John?
Chronic disorder often characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, troubles thinking, and lack of motivation.
What is Schizophrenia?
The practice of paying active, non-judgmental attention to the present moment, observing your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without getting caught up in them. Examples include meditation and yoga.
What is mindfulness?
Depressive disorders are the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses in the U.S..
False! Anxiety disorders are the most common.
Psychologist and Stanford professor Philip Zimbardo created one of the most infamous psychological experiments which demonstrated the corrupt and violent depths students would go to when given authority in a fake ___?
a) School, b) Prison, c) Hospital, d) Office
What is b) Prison?
This famous horror author claimed he had “an addictive personality” and used alcohol, cocaine, Xanax, valium, and other drugs frequently. The author of IT and The Shining would incorporate his addiction into his book characters.
Who is Stephen King?
Disorder affecting one’s ability to regulate their emotions, leading to rapid mood changes, unstable relationships, changing self image, and impulsive behaviors.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
This breathing technique involves inhaling for 4 counts, holding for 4 counts, exhaling for 4 counts, and then holding again for 4 counts. What is this technique called? (Hint: think of the shape this cycle makes!)
What is box breathing?
Suicide rates are increasing over time.
True! Suicide rates have increased by 36% from 2000-2022.
The ___ Effect occurs when an individual takes a fake pill/treatment and experiences actual change in results.
What is the Placebo Effect?
This “father of psychoanalysis” was an avid user of cocaine in an attempt to combat his negative emotions and morphine addiction. His work would lay the foundation for modern day therapy (though many hate him for that).
Who is Sigmund Freud?
The presence of two or more distinct identities that control a person's behavior, accompanied by significant gaps in memory for personal information, events, or traumatic experiences. Often stems from childhood trauma.
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
The 54321 Grounding Technique is often used in moments of intense panic or stress to recenter to your current surroundings. This coping skill involves focusing on what 5 things?
What are the 5 senses (sight, touch, hearing, smell, taste)?
The age range with the highest rates of mental illness are 18-25 year-olds.
True! 18-25 year-olds had rates of 33.7% compared to 28.1% of 26-49 year-olds and 15% of people aged 50+
The Milgram Shock Experiment involved participants being told to administer increasingly painful shocks to a person behind a wall. Participants were directed by researchers to push forward no matter what in order to study obedience after WWII. What percentage of participants administered all shocks, even when they believed it could have been fatal?
a) 5% b) 30% c) 60% d) 100%
What is c) 60%?