Mental Health Glossary

Psychological definition and mental health impact of adhd: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a chronic condition including attention difficulty and impulsiveness.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of anxiety: A natural response to stress characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of attachment theory: A psychological model describing the dynamics of long-term and short-term interpersonal relationships.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of bereavement: The period of grief and mourning after a death.

A mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression).

Psychological definition and mental health impact of body positivity: The assertion that all people deserve to have a positive body image, regardless of how society and the popular culture view ideal shape, size, and appearance.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of boundaries: The physical, emotional, and mental limits we set to protect ourselves from being manipulated, used, or violated by others.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of burnout: A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of catharsis: The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of cbt: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps you manage problems by changing the way you think and behave.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of cortisol: The body's main stress hormone, which works with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of counseling: Professional guidance in resolving personal, social, or psychological problems.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of countertransference: The redirection of a psychotherapist's feelings toward a client.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of dbt: Dialectical Behavior Therapy provides clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of depression: A persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of dissociation: A mental process that causes a lack of connection in a person’s thoughts, memory and sense of identity.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of dopamine: A neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of dysphoria: A profound state of unease or dissatisfaction.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of ego: The organized part of the personality structure that includes defensive, perceptual, intellectual-cognitive, and executive functions.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of emotional intelligence: The ability to monitor one's own and other people's emotions and to use emotional information to guide thinking.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of empathy: The capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of euphoria: An experience or affect of pleasure or excitement and intense feelings of well-being and happiness.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of fight or flight: A physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of gaslighting: A form of psychological manipulation in which a person or group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of grief: A natural response to losing someone or something that's important to you.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of grounding: Strategies that help you detach from emotional pain and stay connected to the present.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of holistic health: An approach to wellness that simultaneously addresses the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual components of health.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of imposter syndrome: Doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud despite your accomplishments.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of insomnia: A common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of introspection: The examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of mindfulness: The practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment, aware of thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of narcissism: Self-centeredness arising from failure to distinguish the self from external objects.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of ocd: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

Psychological definition and mental health impact of panic attack: A sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of phobia: An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of projection: A defense mechanism in which the human ego defends itself against unconscious impulses by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of psychotherapy: The treatment of mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of regression: A defense mechanism leading to the temporary or long-term reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of development.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of resilience: The ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of schizophrenia: A serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of self care: Activities and practices we engage in on a regular basis to reduce stress and enhance our well-being.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of self compassion: Treating oneself with kindness, care and understanding when facing suffering or perceived inadequacy.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of self esteem: How we value and perceive ourselves; it's based on our opinions and beliefs about ourselves.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of serotonin: A neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness.

A chronic mental health condition where social interactions cause irrational anxiety or fear.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of stigma: A set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people has about something.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of sublimation: A mature type of defense mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses are transformed into socially acceptable actions.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of superego: The ethical component of the personality and provides the moral standards by which the ego operates.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of toxic positivity: The belief that no matter how dire or difficult a situation is, people should maintain a positive mindset.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of transference: The redirection of feelings and desires, especially of those unconsciously retained from childhood, toward a new object.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of trauma: An emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of validation: The process of learning about, understanding, and expressing acceptance of another person's emotional experience.

Psychological definition and mental health impact of well being: The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.