Dealing with a mental health issue can be quite intimidating. There are often new doctors to become acquainted with, new medications to get used to and all sorts of new terms and jargon to become familiar with. Below we have defined several terms that are often thrown around in the mental health field that you may not be familiar with. Look them over so that you’ll be armed with knowledge the next time you speak with your doctor or your teen’s physician.
Care Plan
People who have a mental illness and are currently receiving treatment and care under several different health care professionals often require a care plan. A care plan explains the role and support provided by each professional and may also include when treatment should be provided, what to do in a crisis or how relapse can be prevented.
Concurrent Disorders
Concurrent disorders is a term used for someone who has any combination of mental illness and substance abuse problem. For example, someone who has bipolar disorder and who is also an alcoholic has concurrent disorders, as does someone who has depression and who is also addicted to drugs.
Psychosis
When someone is experiencing psychosis, they are experiencing a loss of contact with reality and cannot distinguish between what’s real and what’s not. Psychosis is a symptom of mental illness rather than a medical condition itself and is generally experienced by people who have schizophrenia or mood disorders.
Stigma
Stigma is a perceived negative attribute that causes someone to think less of a person. People with a mental illness often experience stigma and it causes feelings of shame, fear and a diminished sense of self. Many people struggling with mental health challenges do not get the help they need because they’re scared they will be discriminated against.
Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist
Although psychologists and psychiatrists share a similar name, both study the brain and provide therapy, there is a key difference. A psychologist is not a medical doctor and cannot prescribe medication, while a psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor who is able to prescribe medications to aid in the treatment of a mental illness.
Self-Harm
Self-harm is any form of physical harm that someone purposefully inflicts on themselves. Often, people who self-harm hurt themselves to externally express the pain and distress they’re feeling on the inside or to distract themselves from the emotional pain they are feeling. Self-harming behavior can be mistaken for suicidal behavior, but most people who self-harm are not doing so in attempts to kill themselves. However, self-harm can be addictive.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented therapy treatment that takes a hands on approach to problem solving and recovery. The goal of CBT is to change the negative actions and attitudes of people who have a mental illness by focusing on the thoughts and beliefs behind the thought patterns.
Outpatient vs. Inpatient
Someone who is accessing outpatient services is receiving medical treatment from a hospital without being hospitalized overnight. Someone who is accessing inpatient services is staying in a hospital overnight while receiving medical treatment. Depending on a patient’s specific needs, both programs have pros and cons to consider.
Feature Image: Horia Varlan
