A
- Acceptance: A key healing attitude that involves embracing oneself, others, and circumstances without judgment or resistance, fostering inner peace.
- Anxiety: A feeling of worry or fear that can be mild or severe, often accompanied by physical symptoms like increased heart rate.
- Affective Disorder: A category of mental health disorders characterized by disturbances in mood, such as depression and bipolar disorder.
- Antidepressant: A type of medication designed to alleviate symptoms of depression and, in some cases, anxiety disorders.
- Attachment Theory: A psychological framework that explores the impact of early relationships and bonds on emotional and social development.
B
- Balance: A feeling of harmony between one’s emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, contributing to overall mental wellness.
- Bipolar Disorder: A mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
C
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A type of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.
- Compassion: A key healing attitude where one experiences empathy and kindness towards oneself and others, fostering connection and emotional healing.
- Coping Mechanisms: Strategies or techniques that individuals use to manage stress, emotions, and challenging situations.
- Courage: A feeling or attitude involving strength in the face of fear, difficulty, or pain, often necessary for mental health growth and healing.
D
- Depression: A mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and can affect daily functioning.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A type of psychotherapy that helps people learn to manage their emotion and improve their relationships. DBT is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and is often used to treat people with mental health conditions that involve emotional regulation issues. DBT is characterized by teaching people two seemingly opposite strategies: acceptance and change.
- Dissociation: A mental process used to cope with trauma or stress, characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory.
E
- Emotional Regulation: The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a healthy way.
- Eustress: Positive stress that can motivate and energize individuals, often associated with exciting challenges.
F
- Forgiveness: A key healing attitude involving letting go of resentment and the desire for retribution, which aids emotional healing and reduces psychological distress.
- Freudian Psychoanalysis: A therapeutic approach developed by Sigmund Freud that focuses on uncovering unconscious thoughts and feelings.
G
- Genetic Predisposition: The inherited tendency to develop certain mental health conditions based on genetic factors.
- Gratitude: A positive mental attitude characterized by thankfulness and appreciation, which can increase emotional well-being and satisfaction.
- Grief: A natural response to loss, encompassing a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, and confusion.
H
- Hope: A feeling or attitude of expectation and desire for a positive outcome, crucial for resilience in mental health recovery.
- Hyperactivity: Increased levels of activity, often associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
I
- Imposter Syndrome: A psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud.”
- Intervention: A coordinated effort to help someone who is struggling with mental health issues, often involving family and friends.
M
- Mind-Body Connection: The link between mental and emotional health and physical well-being, emphasizing how psychological factors can affect bodily health.
- Mindfulness: The practice of being present and fully engaged in the moment, often used as a technique in stress reduction.
N
- Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life, influenced by experiences and learning.
O
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A mental health disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions).
P
- Patience: A key healing attitude that involves calmly enduring difficult situations, delays, or setbacks without frustration, which aids emotional resilience.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
- Psychoeducation: Providing information and education about mental health conditions to help individuals and families understand and manage symptoms.
R
- Resilience: The ability to mentally or emotionally recover from difficult or traumatic situations, critical for sustaining mental well-being over time.
S
- Schizophrenia: A severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, often leading to distorted perceptions of reality.
- Self-Care: Practices and activities that individuals engage in to maintain and enhance their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
- Stigma: Negative attitudes or beliefs about mental health conditions that can lead to discrimination and social isolation.
T
- Therapy: A broad term for various treatment methods aimed at improving mental health, including talk therapy, cognitive therapy, and more.
- Transference: A phenomenon in therapy where clients project feelings or emotions about significant people in their lives onto the therapist.
- Trigger: An event, situation, or cue that provokes a strong emotional response or exacerbates symptoms of a mental health condition.
- Trust: A key healing attitude involving confidence in oneself, others, and the process of healing, fostering a sense of safety and openness.
W
- Wellness: A holistic approach to health that includes physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
