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Mental Health

1. Intro

Fundamental Principle

  • Deeply interconnected with physical health, social, environment and experience
  • Continuum concept, not binary
  • Individual Variation
  • Early Intervention

Goal:

  • Optimal functioning
  • Reducing suffering
  • Fostering relationship
  • Empowerment

2. Fundation

Definition, Biopsychosocial Model, Neurochemistry

What is mental health?

  • Refer to cognitive, behaviroal, emotional well-being
  • How people think, feel, and act

Biopsychosocial Model: biological, psychological and social factors all play significant role in human functioning

  • Genetic predispositions, brain chemistry, hormones
  • Psychological factors: thought processes, emtions, behaviors,
  • Social, society structure, cultrual norms, family, relationships, life events,

Neurochemistry

  • Serotonin 羟色胺
  • Dopamine 多巴胺, central to brain’s reward system
  • Norepinephrine 去甲肾上腺素, play a role in alertness and arousal

3. Major Disorder

3.1. Hurt and Suffer Everyone would meet

Grief and Bereavement

  • Normal Grief is a natural response to loss. From sadness to anger
  • Prolonged grief: don’t improve after a long time. This could interfere daily functioning

Stress and Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

  • Normal Stress: body’s reaction to harmful situation, can be beneficial in short bursts
  • Acute Stress Disorder: develop after experiencing a traumatic event.
    • Symptoms: flashback, nightmare, feeling estranged
    • May lead to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stree Disorder)

Adjustment Disorder: stress-related conditions

  • Occur when someone can’t cope to a particular source of stress
  • Symptoms: sadness, hopelessness, lack of enjoyment

3.2. Common Issue for Contemporary People

  • Anxiety
    • Source: constant stream of news, social comparison, pressue to keep up
  • Depression
    • Source: social isolation, the changing nature of work, economic pressure, reduced community
  • Burnout
    • Source: blurring lines between work and home, rise of remote working
  • Addiction
    • Source: behavioral addiction, such as internet, gaming, social media addiction
  • Eating disorder: anorexia, bulimia, binge
    • Source: societal beauty standards
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder: obsessive focus on perceived defects or flaws
  • Source: curated online images and ability to digitally alter appeatances
  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
    • Source: information overload and constant multitasking
  • Loneliness and Social Isolation
    • Source: more connected digitally rather physically
  • Sleep disorder
    • Source: 24/7 online entertainment, increasing work demands

4. Theories

4.1. Cognitive-Behaviroal Therapy (CBT)

Key concepts:

  • Automatic negative thoughts influence feelings and actions
  • Identify and challenge the nagative thoughts, one can change the emotional status
  • Short-term and goal-oriented

4.2. Psychonanlytic Theory

Focus on influence of the unconscious mind

Key concepts

  • Id: innate desire, operate on the pleasure princple
  • Ego: operate on the reality principle
  • Superego: represent moral conscience

4.3. Humanistic Psychology

Emphasize individual potential, growth and self-actuallization

Key concepts

  • Hierarchy of needs, Maslow
  • Self-Actualization: realization or fulfillment of one’s talent
  • Unconditinoal Positive Regard: therapists should provide environment of acceptance and support

4.4. Positive Psychology

Aiming to discover and promote the factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive

Key concepts

  • Strengths, virtus, and factors that contribute to a fulfilling life
  • Study concepts like happiness, gratitude, resillience and hope

5. Prevention

  • Mindfulness and meditation
    • Reduce overthinking
    • Enhance self-awareness
    • Reduce stress
  • Sleep
  • Nutrition
    • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Exercise
    • Physical activity release endorphines
  • Journaling: provide an outlet for emotional expression
  • Limiting stimulants and alcohol