Mental Illness
What is a mental illness?
A wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior
What are examples of positive symptoms?
Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking/behaviors
Identify an antipsychotic medication
Haldol, Respirdol, Clozaril, Zyprexa, Cecaquil, Clozopine
What is social support?
Refers to having relationships that are rewarding, enriching, and helpful
What is a relapse?
A return to old behaviors or ways of thinking, a return of symptoms
What are some of the symptoms of schizophrenia?
Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, thinking difficulty, Negative symptoms (avolition, asociality, anhedonia, and alogia)
What are examples of negative symptoms?
Alogia, flat affect, anhedonia, asociality, avolition, apathy
What questions should you ask your doctor to make informed decisions about your medication?
- What will it help me with?
-How long does it take the medication to work?
-What side effects might I experience?
-What if the medication doesn't work for me?
How can having social support help you with your recovery?
Supportive relationships make people feel good about themselves, feel more optimistic about the future, and reduce stress
What could cause an individual to have a relapse?
Under more stress, stop taking their medications, using alcohol or drugs
What are some of the symptoms of bipolar I disorder?
Mania: rapid speech, racing thoughts, elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, increase in risk taking behaviors, extreme goal-directed activity
Depression
True or False: Hearing, seeing, feeling or smelling something that is not present is a symptom of psychosis
True
Name 3 benefits of taking medication
Experience symptoms less often or less intensely, concentrate better and think more clearly, fall asleep more easily and sleep more restfully, accomplish more of your goals
Give an example of a supportive person or organization in your life
Ex: Parents, siblings, friend, social worker, treatment team, etc.
What is your preferred method of relaxation?
Ex: listening to music, nature, taking a walk, deep breathing, petting an animal, etc.
What are some symptoms of major depressive disorder?
Significant weight loss or weight gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, problems concentrating, recurrent thoughts of death
What might be an effective coping skill to manage auditory hallucinations?
Distract self by listening to music, point out objects in the room (point and name game), identify all of the right angles in the room, ect.
Identify a mood-stabilizing medication
Depekote, Benedryl, Cognitin, Lithium, Thorozine
True
What can help you stay calm when you are angry?
Count to 10 before responding, set a boundary, walk away and come back when you are cooled down, use assertive communication skills, speak firmly but calmly
What are some symptoms of substance use disorder?
Intense cravings, unsuccessful efforts to cut down, Inordinate time spent obtaining substance or recovering from effects, important activities/roles given up, continued use despite physical/psychological problems/physical hazards, increased tolerance, withdrawal
True or False: Being on the schizophrenia spectrum means that you will never be able to accomplish your goals
False
When you experience side effects, your doctor might recommend:
Reduce the dosage, add another medication to treat side-effects, or switch medications
How can you develop closer relationships?
Try to understand the other person's point of view, do things together, be willing to compromise, show through your actions that you care, be there for the person and help out
What keeps you motivated in your recovery?
Ex: Better relationships with loved ones, going back to school, wanting to be happier, etc.