Mental Health and Stress Management Flashcards
Grade 9 · Health · Flashcards
Key terms and concepts for understanding mental health, the stress response, and coping strategies.
Flashcards
- Stressor
- Any event, situation, or stimulus (internal or external) that triggers the stress response in an individual.
- HPA axis
- The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis; the hormonal communication system that regulates the body's stress response and cortisol release.
- Epinephrine (adrenaline)
- A hormone released by the adrenal medulla that rapidly increases heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability during acute stress.
- Cortisol
- A glucocorticoid hormone that sustains the stress response; chronically elevated levels impair immune function, memory, and sleep.
- Parasympathetic nervous system
- The branch of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'rest-and-digest' response, which counteracts the fight-or-flight state.
- Cognitive reframing
- Changing the way you think about a stressor to alter its emotional impact — a core technique in cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- Mindfulness
- Non-judgmental, present-moment awareness; shown in research to reduce cortisol levels and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Burnout
- A state of chronic exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, characterized by emotional depletion, detachment, and reduced performance.
- Resilience
- The dynamic ability to adapt positively and recover from adversity, trauma, tragedy, or significant stress.
- Anxiety disorder
- A mental health condition involving excessive, persistent fear or worry that interferes with daily functioning; the most common mental disorder in adolescents.
- Coping mechanism
- A strategy used to manage stress; can be adaptive (exercise, talking to someone) or maladaptive (avoidance, substance use).
- Social support
- The perception or reality that one is cared for and valued by others; a strong protective factor against the negative effects of stress.
- Depression
- A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, and impaired functioning lasting at least two weeks.
- Endorphins
- Neuropeptides released during exercise and laughter that act as natural pain relievers and mood elevators, reducing stress.
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