Matters of the Brain
What is the the “feel-good” hormone/neurotransmitter that is released in the brain called?
Dopamine
Fact or Myth:
Having a mental illness means you are “crazy.”
Myth.
Having a mental illness does not mean you are “crazy.” It means you are vulnerable. It means you have an illness with challenging symptoms — the same as someone with an illness like diabetes. While mental illness might alter your thinking, destabilize your moods or skew your perception of reality, that doesn’t mean you are “crazy.” It means you are human and are susceptible to sickness and illness, the same as any other person.
Name 2 ways a person can manage their anxiety
Exercise
Make sleep a priority
Avoid alcohol and recreational drug use
True or False?
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.
TRUE
Name (1) stereotype a person may have towards another who has a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety.
Lazy
Weak
Coward
Attention-seeking
Crazy
True or False?
The biological purpose for this mechanism (the release of dopamine in the brain) is to encourage life-sustaining behaviors (such as eating when hungry) by producing a pleasurable sensation when the necessary behavior happens.
True
This keeps us coming back for more cause the experience is pleasing. It keeps us alive.
Depression
Anxiety disorders
Bipolar disorders
Mood disorders
Personality disorders
Psychotic disorders
If I know what triggers my anxiety and/depression, I can better manage it.
TRUE
True or False
If you have an anxiety disorder, it is important to avoid stress and situations that make you "feel" stressed.
False
Avoiding anxiety tends to reinforce it. Treating yourself as fragile and avoiding risk leads to feeling bad about self.
What is a mental health stigma?
Mental health stigma refers to societal disapproval, or when society places shame on people who live with a mental illness or seek help for emotional distress, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD.
How does dopamine and the use of substances intersect?
When a person ingests drugs/alcohol, it artificially creates this effect (more efficiently and intensely) than natural rewards by creating a neurochemical reaction that significantly increases the amount of dopamine that is released by neurons in the brain's reward center, The result of this dopamine overflow is the feeling of being high.
MIMICS
How can you help someone with a mental health condition?
Treat the person as you would any family, friend or coworker who is sick:
What is the benefit of meditation?
When you meditate, you may clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.
Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.
Anxiety disorders affect______ of children between 13 and 18 years old.
25.1%
Research shows that untreated children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in substance abuse.
Approximately______% of people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma.
75%
What happens when the brain has TOO much dopamine?
A person may become more competitive
More aggressive
Poor impulse control
Can lead to conditions such as ADHD, binge eating, and addiction.
Fact or Myth
People with mental illness are violent and dangerous.
Myth
Within the last few years, the U.S. has had an increase in mass violence. Whenever these tragedies take place, the media is quick to judge the suspects and label them as “mentally disturbed” or “mentally ill.” In reality, hate is not a mental illness. Only 5% of violent crimes in the U.S. are committed by people with serious mental illness.
When do we learn coping skills?
Coping behaviors can be developed unconsciously and and are often learned from an early age. If one's parents exercise after encountering a stressful situation, it's likely that they, too, exercise as a means of coping with stress.
Nearly _______ of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
One-Half
_____% do not want to spend an evening socializing with someone with mental illness.
56%
True or False?
Dopamine is a key player in the brain’s pleasure and reward system. It drives your motivation, desire, and cravings; it is what what keeps you going when the going gets tough.
True
Are there any signs a person could be experiencing a mental health condition?
Why are coping skills important?
Put simply, coping skills help us deal with the uncomfortable emotions and stress we so often deal with on a day to day basis. Without them, we're prone to over thinking situations, over exaggerating problems, and behaving irrationally. Healthy coping skills allow us to counteract stress, think clearly, and feel better emotionally.
Identify 2 risk factors that can contribute a person's developing an anxiety disorder.
Genetics
Brain chemistry
Personality
Life events
Some harmful effects of stigma can include....