Mental Health
Cognitive Distortions
Medication 101
Supporting Mental Health
Symptoms & Warning Signs
100

A condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. These conditions deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect the ability to relate to others.

What is mental illness?

100

What are cognitive distortions (definition)?


(SZ added)

Cognitive distortions, also called distorted thinking, are “automatic, negative patterns of thinking that distort reality. 

They’re stories that we tell ourselves that aren’t fully true or helpful.

"thought traps"

200

True or False: Medication and therapy are the most successful tools in dealing with mental health challenges.

(SZ added)

True

200

Name one cognitive distortion and provide an example


(SZ added)

(Answers my vary) Filtering, polarized thinking, overgeneralization, mind reading, catastrophizing, personalization, control fallacies, fallacy of fairness, blaming, shoulds, emotional reasoning, fallacy of change, global labeling, being right, heaven's reward fallacy

200

Name at least two things that can promote positive mental health?


(SZ added)

Mindfulness, doing something kind for someone else, physical movement, positive friendships, talking about your problems, having an outlet for anger and frustration, getting enough sleep, eating healthy.

200

In panic attacks, this physical sensation often leads people to believe they're having a heart attack.


(SZ)

What is chest pain or tightness

300

What can be a sign that you're engaging in cognitive distortions?

the presence of painful emotions - feeling nervous, depressed, chronically angry, bitter, disgust

and/or

ruminating, "thought spiraling"

300

True or false: all stress is bad.


(SZ)

False. Some stress can be motivating and is a natural reaction your body has to certain events. It can sometimes give us an "extra push". When stress becomes too much to handle, that might be an indication to start making some positive mental health changes


300

What could help someone when having a panic attack?

(SZ)


Relaxation techniques, deep breathing, journaling, talking it out, meditation, being in a quiet place, ice packs or cold items

400

"You're either with me or you're against me"

This is an example of which cognitive distortion?

Polarized thinking

(answers may vary)

400

Describe the 5-4-3-2-1 Coping Strategy


(SZ added)

A technique that asks you to find things you can see, smell, hear, touch, and taste (5 senses) to calm down when feeling anxious or distressed.

500

What can be a first step in cognitive restructuring?


(SZ added)

 

Awareness and labeling - developing awareness of when you are engaging in cognitive distortions and labeling the cognitive distortion that you're engaged in

500

Name at least 3 questions you should ask a pharmacist or doctor when getting prescribed medications.


(added by SZ)

What are the side effects? What are the expected results? Are there interactions with this medication and other meds I take? Why am I taking this? How should I take this? What should I do if I miss a dose? (other answers also acceptable)


500
True or False: "What is the evidence for and against this thought?" is a good reality-checking question for unhelpful thoughts.


(SZ)

True!

Other helpful questions: "Is this thought helping or hurting me?"

"Is this thought based on fact or feeling?"

"As I assuming I know what others think?"