Term | Definition |
Stress | Response to a stimulus or demand made upon an individual |
Stressor | Any factor that produces stress & disturbs the body’s equilibrium |
Coping | Immediate response to a threatening situation |
Adaptation | Change in an individual as a final response to stress |
Coping Mechanisms | Inborn or learned ways of responding to a changing environment, specific problem or unexpected situation. |
Defense Mechanism | mental responses that protect an individual from anxiety. |
Denial | Blocking painful thoughts or feelings |
Rationalization | Mind gives "good" reasons for behavior, instead of true reasons |
Compensation | Substituting one activity for another |
Regression | Going backwards to behavior that was comforting in earlier life |
Projection | Attributing characteristics & behaviors to other people instead of ourselves |
Displacement | Transferring feelings about one person to another |
Conversion Reaction | Becoming physically ill from mental conflict |
Hierarchy of Needs | Written by Maslow. Belief that more basic human needs must be met before higher level needs can be considered. |
Physiological Needs | Maslow's most basic needs include: air, food, water,rest |
Safety & Security Needs | Second level in Maslow. Includes: shelter, clothing, protection from harm, stability |
Love & Belonging Needs | Middle level in Maslow. Includes: feelings of belonging, acceptance, and love from others. |
Self Esteem Needs | Second to top in Maslow. Belief in one's own worth & value. Feeling respected. |
Self Actualization | Highest level in Maslow. Ability of one to reach fullest potential. |
Mood | Pervasive and sustained emotion. |
Affect | Emotional reaction to an experience |
Blunted Affect | Decreased emotional response. |
Flat Affect | Virtual absence of emotional response. Face is immobile & voice is monotone. |
Inappropriate Affect | Affect/emotions don’t match situation. |
Labile | Rapidly shifting moods or emotions. |
Ambivalence | Displays opposite emotions at the same time. |
Elation | Normal joy & optimism |
Euphoria | Unusual elation & cheerfulness at inappropriate times and situations. |
Fear | Normal response to a danger. |
Anxiety | Worry about unknown dangers. |
Depression | Illness that cause withdrawal, low energy, loss of interest in activities & other symptoms. May be a normal reaction to a loss. |
Bipolar Disease | Cycles of mania & depression, may have normal periods in-between. Also called manic-depressive disorder. |
Claustrophobia | fear of confined spaces |
Phobia | Abnormal fear which may be disabling or keep person from normal activities |
Schizophrenia | disorder that affects person's ability to function normally in the real world |
Psychotherapy | method of treating mental illness that involves talking about problems with mental health professionals |
Panic disorder | a person is afraid for no specific reason & has persistent panic attacks, which are bouts of overwhelming fear |
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | Behaviors performed ritually (compulsions) to decrease anxiety from unwanted thoughts (Obsessions) |
Delusion | firm, fixed, false belief that is irrational. |
Hallucination | sensory experience for which there is no external stimulus!! May strike any sense. |
Illusion | misperception of a real stimulus |
Paranoia | response to stress with false sense of self-importance and delusions of persecution |
Alert | awake & oriented to person/place/time |
Lethargic | drifts off to sleep easily & frequently rouses to name but looks drowsy answers questions correctly but has trouble thinking loses train of thought decrease in spontaneous movement |
Obtunded | sleeps most of time difficult to arouse without shouting acts confused when aroused mumbled speech, makes no sense doesn’t cooperate unless constantly stimulated |
Stupor or Semi-Coma | mainly unconscious responds only to vigorous shake or pain withdraws from pain when applied groans, mumbles, doesn’t talk moves restlessly still has reflexes |
Coma | Completely unconscious No response to pain Light coma will have some reflex activity but no purposeful movement Deep coma will have no motor response |
Developmental Delays | Significantly below average general intelligence & deficits in adaptive behaviors. Usually identified before pt is 22 years old. |
Mental Illness | Disruption, disorganization, or disintegration of pt’s thought processes. |
Down's Syndrome | Genetic disorder in which pt has an extra set of chromosomes. |
Autism | Pt has extreme difficulty with communication & relating to other people & surroundings. Unknown cause. |
Cerebral Palsy | Damage to cerebrum at or near the time of birth, which causes problems with motor control. |
Spina Bifida | Congenital defect of the spine, which can cause paralysis |
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome | Combination of physical & mental problems affecting a child whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy. |