Symptoms
This symptom consists of false perceptions: seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling something that is not actually there.
Hallucinations
What is one category of persistent problems or symptoms that people often experience?
Thinking problems, mood problems, negative symptoms, psychotic symptoms, or drug and alcohol use.
This model explains how difficult situations, major life events, or drug and alcohol use can contribute to the onset of symptoms.
The Stress-Vulnerability Model
What is something you can do to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a mental health relapse?
Learning as much as possible about your illnesses, being aware of your own symptoms, developing coping strategies for stress, participating in treatment that helps, building social support, using medication effectively, identifying early warning signs, developing a relapse prevention plan
What is a strategy you can use to cope with drug and alcohol addiction?
Learning the scientific facts about drugs and alcohol, be realistic about how using drugs or alcohol has affected your life, develop alternatives to using drugs or alcohol, practice strategies for dealing with people who offer you drugs or alcohol, keep in mind advantages to maintaining sobriety
This symptom consists of false beliefs that are strongly held, unshakable even when presented with evidence that contradicts them, and seem impossible or untrue to others.
Delusions
What is a coping skill used for dealing with anxiety?
Talking with someone in your support system, using relaxation techniques (deep breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, etc.), identify situations that cause anxiety and develop a plan of action for them, or work with a mental health provider on a plan to gradually expose yourself to anxiety-causing situations.
What is the best method to reduce biological vulnerability?
Finding medication that works well for you
Who is someone that can help you recognize early warning signs of a relapse?
Friends, family, support group members, practitioners, co-workers, spouse/significant other
What is a problem that can be caused by drug and alcohol use?
Increased symptoms/relapses, social problems, difficulties at work or school, daily living problems, legal problems, health problems, safety problems, dependence
List three symptoms of depression
Sadness, eating too little or too much, sleeping too little or too much, feeling tired/low energy, feeling helpless/hopeless/worthless, feeling guilty for things that aren't your fault, having suicidal thoughts or action, having trouble concentrating
What is a coping strategy for depression?
Setting daily goals for activities, identify things you enjoy and focus on them, schedule something pleasant to do each day, talk to someone in your support system, ask people to join in activities with you, practice relaxation exercises, remind yourself of the progress you have made.
What are three methods you can use to reduce stress?
Identify stressful situations and ways of reducing stress from them, set reasonable expectations for yourself, find meaningful activities, maintain healthy habits, seek supportive relationships, avoid situations where people criticize you, give yourself credit for talents and strengths
What is a reason someone might have a relapse of symptoms?
Being under stress, ceasing medication use, or using alcohol and drugs
What is one of three steps in developing a personal sobriety plan?
Identifying reasons to stop using substances, developing strategies to manage high-risk situations, finding new ways of getting your needs met that don't involve substances
List three symptoms of mania
Feeling extremely happy or excited, feeling irritable, feeling unrealistically self-confident, sleeping less, talking a lot, racing thoughts, easily distracted, extremely active, faulty judgement
What is a coping skill you can use for negative symptoms?
Identify activities you enjoy and schedule them, verbally express what you feel and think, join a support group, explore opportunities to spend time with other people, talk to someone in your support system, arrange for errands that cause you to interact with other people.
What are three methods you can use to cope with stress more effectively?
Talk about your feelings, use relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation, positive self-talk, keeping a sense of humor and positivity, physical exercise, create artwork, keep a journal, develop hobbies, become involved in a community (religious/spiritual, sports, hobbies, etc.)
What are two components of a relapse prevention plan?
Reminders of past triggers, reminders of past early warning signs, things to do to get help when experiencing early warning signs, people who can help, and emergency contacts
What is a reason to stop using substances?
Better ability to manage mental health symptoms, improved social relationships, improved ability to work or go to school, having fewer legal problems, having more money to spend on other things
List the three categories of Psychotic symptoms
Hallucinations, Delusions, and Thought Disorders
What is a coping skill you can use for psychotic symptoms?
Distract yourself by focusing on an activity, perform a reality-check with someone you trust, use positive self-talk, use relaxation techniques to reduce stress, put hallucinations "in the background"
What are the three main goals of treatment?
Reducing biological vulnerability, reducing stress, and learning to cope with stress more effectively
What is an early warning sign of a relapse of symptoms?
Feeling tense or nervous, eating less or more, sleeping less or more, feeling depressed, withdrawing socially, feeling irritable, stopping medication use, having trouble concentrating, thinking people are against you, hearing or seeing things that aren't there, using/abusing drugs or alcohol, increased risk taking, being overconfident
What is an example of a "high-risk" situation?
Having friends offer you substances or pressure you to use them, meeting a former drug connection, celebrating holidays, going to a party, having money on you, feeling bad (depressed, anxious, or frustrated), having nothing to do, spending too much time alone