Mental, emotional, and social health

1. Mental, emotional, and social health

2. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs –Theory in psychology, with largest and most fundamental needs at bottom • Physiological - Air, water, and food are metabolic requirements for survival in all animals, including humans. Clothing and shelter provide necessary protection from the elements. The intensity of the human sexual instinct is shaped more by sexual competition than maintaining a birth rate adequate to survival of the species. • Safety - Safety needs take over after life necessities. In the absence of physical safety, people experience post-traumatic stress disorder and trans-generational trauma transfer. In the absence of economic safety , these safety needs manifest themselves in such things as a preference for job security, savings accounts, insurance policies. • Love/Belongings - The need is especially strong in childhood and can over-ride the need for safety; can lead to disability to form healthy relationships if neglected; can come from family, friends, sports, gangs, etc; this can override the physiological needs like an anorexic. • Esteem - Esteem presents the normal human desire to be accepted and valued by others; that many people with low self-esteem will not be able to improve their view of themselves simply externally, but must first accept themselves internally • Self-actualization - This level of need pertains to what a person's full potential is and realizing that potential; Maslow describes this desire as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming.This is a broad definition of the need for self-actualization, but when applied to individuals the need is specific.

3. General adaption syndrome -what the alleged effects of stress has on the body. • stress is a major cause of disease because chronic stress causes long-term chemical changes. • body would respond to any external biological source of stress with a predictable biological pattern in an attempt to restore the body’s internal homeostasis. • This initial hormonal reaction is your fight or flight stress response - and its purpose is for handling stress very quickly! • there is a limited supply of adaptive energy to deal with stress. • Alarm - Your first reaction to stress recognizes there’s a danger and prepares to deal with the threat; main stress hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline, is released to provide instant energy; If this energy is repeatedly not used by physical activity, it can become harmful; At this stage everything is working as it should – you have a stressful event, your body alarms you with a sudden jolt of hormonal changes, and you are now immediately equipped with enough energy to handle it. • Resistance - source of stress being possibly resolved; Homeostasis begins restoring balance and a period of recovery for repair and renewal takes place; If a stressful condition persists, your body adapts by a continued effort in resistance and remains in a state of arousal; Problems begin to manifest when you find yourself repeating this process too often with little or no recovery • Exhaustion - Your body’s ability to resist is lost because its adaptation energy supply is gone; Here is where stress levels go up and stay up

4. Stress management • Unhealthy response: • Smoking • Drinking too much • Overeating or undereating • Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer • Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities • Using pills or drugs to relax       • Sleeping too much • Procrastinating • Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems • Taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence) • Healthy response: • Avoid stress – saying “no,” avoid people, take control, avoid hot-topics, & pare down to-do list. • Alter situation – express your feelings, compromise, be assertive, & manage time. • Adapt to stressor – reframe problems, look at big picture, adjust standards, & focus on positive. • Ways – relaxation techniques, go for a walk, spend time in nature, call a good friend, sweat out tension, write in journal, take a long bath, light scented candles, savor a warm cup of coffee or tea, play with a pet, work in garden, get a massage, read, music, watch a comedy.

5. Tone refers to various sound aspects of words as they are spoken. Body language can be considered nonverbal communication. Choosing the right words to communicate with are also important when trying to express emotion clearly. Feeling hurt by someone's words or actions can be considered primary Differences in culture and family systems should also be considered when effectively communicating emotion. The relationship between emotions and effective communication

6. Mental illness • Warning signs - Confused thinking; prolonged depression; feelings of extreme highs and lows; excessive fears, worries, & anxieties; social withdrawal; dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits; strong feelings of anger; delusions; growing inability to cope with daily problems; suicidal thoughts; denial of obvious problems; numerous unexplained physical ailments; & substance abuse. • Support Systems: • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) • American Psychiatric Association • American Academy of child and Adolescent Psychiatry • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) • Treatment – Accept your feelings, handling unusual behavior, establishing support, seeking counseling, taking time out, medication, friends, family, etc.

7. Suicide Prevention • Risk factors – mental illness, social interactions, low income, unemployment, abuse, family history, esteem. • National Suicide Prevention Hotline. • Talk to anyone. • Teen Warning signs: • Disinterest in favorite extracurricular activities  • Problems at work and losing interest in a job  • Substance abuse, including alcohol and drug (illegal and legal drugs) use • Behavioral problems  • Withdrawing from family and friends  • Sleep changes  • Changes in eating habits  • Begins to neglect hygiene and other matters of personal appearance  • Emotional distress brings on physical complaints (aches, fatigues, migraines)  • Hard time concentrating and paying attention  • Declining grades in school • Loss of interest in schoolwork  • Risk taking behaviors  • Complains more frequently of boredom  • Does not respond as before to praise

8. Nonverbal describes the process of conveying meaning in the form of non-word messages. Visual is the conveyance of ideas and information through creation of visual representations. Oral, while primarily referring to spoken verbal communication, typically relies on both words, visual aids and non-verbal elements to support the conveyance of the meaning Forms of communication