Mental Health Overview and Disorders

Study Notes

Refers to the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of an individual
Impacts how we think, feel, and act, and how we cope with stress and make choices

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): excessive, uncontrollable worry
- Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  - Identifies negative thoughts, challenges unhelpful ideas, reframes thoughts
  - Learn relaxation techniques (deep breathing, mindfulness)
  - Behavioral activation/gradual exposure to feared situations
Social Anxiety Disorder: intense fear or worry about social situations, often due to fear of judgment or embarrassment
- Treatments: CBT, Exposure therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Group Therapy
  - Exposure Therapy: gradually facing social situations (e.g., small talk to presentations) to decrease anxiety
  - ACT: accept anxiety as a natural feeling, focus on actions aligned with values
Panic Disorder: repeated, unexpected panic attacks (sudden intense fear)
- Physical symptoms include racing heart, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, nausea
- Treatments: CBT, Exposure Therapy, Relaxation Techniques
  - CBT: identifies and changes fearful thoughts, manages physical symptoms
  - Exposure Therapy: controlled exposure to feared situations to reduce anxiety
  - Relaxation Techniques: breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness to reduce physical symptoms
Phobias: intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity
- Examples: arachnophobia (spiders), acrophobia (heights), claustrophobia (tight spaces)
- Treatments: CBT, Exposure Therapy, Relaxation Techniques

Provides a supportive environment to practice social skills and reduce anxiety
Social skills training, role-playing, and feedback to improve interactions in a safe setting