Personal Development

LESSON 4:
MENTAL HEALTH
AND STRESS
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, the learner shall be able to:
1. Discuss understanding of mental health and psychological well-being to identify
ways to cope with.
2. Identify causes and effects of stress in one’s life.
3. Demonstrate personal ways to cope with stress and maintain mental health.
What is Mental Health?

Mental Health
a state of well-being in which the individual
realizes his/her own abilities, can work
productively and fruitfully and is able to make
contribution to his/her community.
Psychological well-being refers to an
individual’s state or condition that is free from
any mental or emotional disorders.
What is Stress?

It is our body’s reaction to pressures,

responsibilities, and threats (real or imagined).
What is Stressors?
A stressor is any event, object, or person that causes stress.
Stress means different things to different people. What causes stress in one person may be of little
concern to another, may it be a

problem with money, pressure at school, or conflict with relationship

Types of Stress
1. EUSTRESS
A stress that challenge and motivate you to
find creative solution to your concern.
The positive type of stress
Types of Stress
2. DISTRESS
A stress that becomes overwhelming,
bothersome and leads to a sense helplessness
and exhaustion.
The negative type of stress
 Sources of Stress
PHYSICAL STRESSORS SOCIAL STRESSORS PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSORS

• Heat • Social economic and • These are events and stimuli that
• Cold political situations cause one to experience
• Noise • Family psychological stress.
• Fire • Job and career
• Traffic • Interpersonal and
• Violence environmental stressors
• Own Illness
• Poor classroom conditions
Symptoms of Stress
Cognitive Symptoms
 Memory problems
 Unable to concentrate
 Poor judgement
 Seeing only the negative
 Being anxious
 Worrying constantly
Symptoms of Stress
Emotional Symptoms
 Moodiness
 Irritability or short temper
 Agitation or restlessness
 Feeling of being overwhelmed
 Sense of loneliness or isolation
 Unhappiness
Symptoms of Stress
Physical Symptoms

 Body aches and pains

 Diarrhea or constipation
 Nausea
 Chest pain
 Rapid heartbeat
 Frequent colds
Symptoms of Stress
Behavioral Symptoms
 Eating more or less
 Sleeping too much or too little
 Isolating yourself from others
 Procrastinating
 Neglecting responsibilities
 Drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, playing
computer for several hours
 Having nervous habits such as nail biting and pacing restlessly
Remember:
Stress is part of growing up. You may feel pressure in everything you do,
both at home and school.
You experience stress when you respond to stressors that you perceive to
exceed your capabilities.
Stress at some point can be life threatening depending on how one
manages stress to escape from the harm it can cause.
Remember:
Coping involves managing difficult situations, exerting efforts to
solve your problems, and striving to master or reduce the stressful
effects of these situations. In order to cope successfully, attitude
plays a key role.
Santrock, 2012
Suggestions for coping with stress according to American
Psychological Association:

 Get some sleep

 Focus on strengths
 Engage in physical activity
 Do things that make you happy
 Talk to someone
Mental Health
Just like our physical health, mental health is essential in our
lives. However, it is different when one has a mental illness because
this includes emotional, psychological, and social health. It can
influence one's feelings, thoughts, social and emotional well-being.
Mental Illness

Mental illness refers to diagnosable mental disorders

characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or
behavior (or a combination thereof) associated with
distress and impaired functioning (Magpantay and
Danao, 2016)
Mental Illness

Anorexia Nervosa
Eating
Disorde Bulimia Nervosa

r Binge-Eating Disorder
Eating disorder
According to DSM5 2013 (Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorder), it is characterized by persistent
disturbance of eating that result in altered consumption or
absorption of food and significantly impair physical or
psychosocial functioning.
This disorder is common among adolescents due to
dissatisfaction of one’s body.
Types of Eating disorder
Anorexia Nervosa
 Intense fear of gaining weight
 Disturbed body image
 Refusal to maintain normal body weight
 Dangerous measures to lose weight
 Average onset is age 13
Types of Eating disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
 Over indulgence of food followed by induced
vomiting, fasting and excessive exercise
 Average onset is 16 to 19 years old.
Types of Eating disorder
Binge-Eating Disorder
 Characterized by over-eating but NOT
followed by efforts to induce vomiting, fasting
and exercise
 Onset usually in adolescence; often persists
into old age,
Mental Illness
Phobic

Obsessive- Panic
compulsive Anxiety disorder

Separation
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders
Characterized by excessive fear,
anxiety and related behavioral
disturbance.
Types of Anxiety disorders
Phobic Disorder
 Irrational fear of specific an object or
situation that negatively affects daily activities.
 Accompanied by physical symptoms such as
trembling and palpitation.
Types of Anxiety disorders
Panic Disorder
It causes panic attacks which are sudden feelings of terror
when there is no real danger. You may feel as if you are
loosing control
Abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort
 Physical symptoms include fainting, sweating,
palpitations, chest pain, and dizziness.
Types of Anxiety disorders
Separation Anxiety Disorder
 Excessive anxiety felt by children when their parents
leave them. They may worry that something bad might
happen to their parent or to someone else they love.
 They may also have physical symptoms like stomach
aches or even throwing up out of fear.
Types of Anxiety disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
 people have recurring, unwanted thoughts,
ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make
them feel driven to do something repetitively
(compulsions)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Compulsive habits can include:
 repetitive checking on a locked door, light switch,
and other things
 Putting items in an exact order, like cans with labels
facing front
 Fear of touching doorknobs, using public toilets or
shaking
 Need to count things, like steps or bottles
Mental Illness
Personality Disorder
According to American Psychiatric Association it is a way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviates
from the expectation of culture, causes distress or problems functioning lasts over time.
Personality disorders affect at least two of these areas :
 Way of thinking about oneself and others
 Way of responding emotionally
 Way of relating to other people
 Way of controlling one’s behavior
Personality disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Anti-social Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Personality disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder
 Distrust and suspiciousness on the motives of the
people around them
Thoughts of persecution causes fear
Persistently bears grudges
Personality disorder
Anti-social Personality Disorder
Violating/ignoring the rights of others.
They do not care if their behaviors may harm
others.
Repeated lying, manipulating others
Personality disorder Histrionic Personality Disorder
 Shows excessive emotionality and attention seeking
behaviors. May cry for no apparent reason just to express
their feelings.
 Wants attention
 Uses physical appearance to get attention
 Uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention
Personality disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
 Self-centered
 Exaggerated self-esteem
 Deep need for excessive attention and admiration
 Lack of empathy for others
 Envy of others or belief that others are envious of them
 Demonstration of arrogance and haughty behaviors or attitude .
Personality disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
 Pattern of extreme shyness
 Extreme sensitivity to criticism
 Prefer to be alone and avoid social activities because of
fear of being judged.
 View themselves as not good of being enough.
Personality disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Submissive and clinging behavior related to excessive
need to be taken care of.
Cannot work alone
Feels helpless if not attended by someone
Demand someone to be always at their side
Personality disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality
Disorder
 Pre-occupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and
control
 Overly focused on details or schedules
 Work excessively not allowing time for leisure or friends
Ex. They frequently do not complete projects because they
get lost in details
Mental Illness
Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders
According to DSM5, they are defined as abnormalities in one or more of the following:
 Delusion (believing that others are watching or following you)
 Hallucination (seeing people not present, hearing voices)
 Disorganized speech
 Abnormal motor behavior
 Psychosis (loss of contact with reality)
 Substance Related Disorders
DRUG a substance such as alcohol, caffeine, marijuana, and tobacco whose chemical actions alter the biological
and psychological functioning of an individual.

DRUG DEPENDENCY occurs when a person can no longer control his or her substance intake.
DRUG ABUSE individual relies on drugs excessively which affects his work, life, and family.
TOLERANCE is the individual’s capacity to use the substance repeatedly by small doses and later larger
doses to produce desired effect (Sevilla, 2000).
 Threats to Psychological Well Being
Adolescence like you maybe prone to any of the disorders previously described if not
aware of the possible threats that may contribute to the development of such disorders.
These includes;
Family Situations
Socioeconomic Factors
School-Related Factors
Prevention of Mental Health Problems

Enhancing Self-Esteem
Enhancing Resilience
Developing Self Regulation
Enhancing Social Skills
Prevention of Mental Health Problems
Techniques on how to enhance resilience:
1. Establish connections
2. Be more optimistic
3. Love and take care of yourself
4. Strengthen your problem-solving abilities
5. Accept the reality that nothing is permanent in this world
Prevention of Mental Health Problems
Ways on how to promote positive relationships with others :
1. Promote good feelings through positive reciprocity
2. Show empathy
3. Clarify boundaries and set people limitations
4. Learn to negotiate
5. Express gratitude
6. Practice forgiveness
7. Learn to help other
8. Accept help from others
Always remember...

“It’s not the load that breaks you down

but the way you carry it.”

- Lou Holtz
 ACTIVITY 4: “Poem”
Direction: In line with our topic mental health problems, you are tasked to write a poem that would
encourage people who are suffering from mental challenges and difficulties to be strong and help
them overcome it. The poem should be composed of 4 stanzas and each stanzas must have 4 lines. It
could be free verse. You will be graded according to: relevance to the topic (5), content/message
(15), and originality (10).