8
Chapter Features
Chapter 17 Maintaining Positive Social and Mental Health
407
Mentally healthy people are likely
to view life’s challenges as opportuni-
ties for growth. When an event occurs,
they identify the issues involved. They
think clearly about their goals. Then
they search for solutions to resolve the
problem. If a situation becomes too
overwhelming, mentally healthy people
are not afraid to ask others for help.
Self-Concept and
Mental Health
Your
self-concept
is the idea you
have about yourself. It is how you
see your behavior in relation to other
people and tasks. Part of having good
mental health is having a positive self-
concept. You have a realistic view of
17-10
People who display many of these characteristics tend to have positive views of
themselves and strong relationships with others.
Characteristics of Positive Mental and Social Health
Positive mental and social health may be reflected in someone who
•
maintains a positive self-image
•
respects and takes good care of self
•
finds pleasure in life; is happy and active most of the timecan
•
shows awareness of personal thoughts and feelings and express them in
positive ways
•
works to meet daily problems and challenges
•
is not afraid to face problems and is willing to seek help when crises arise
•
plans for achieving future goals
•
enjoys humor and can laugh at self
•
knows how to end personal relationships that are hurtful
•
shows interest in learning and growing
from mistakes and can accept criticism
•
tolerates frustration without undue anger
•
works well in group situations
•
continues to work with an individual or group even when his or her ideas are rejected
•
develops talents and abilities to their fullest
•
enjoys positive interpersonal relations with people of both sexes
•
genuinely likes people and shows interest in meeting new people
•
considers the needs and rights of others when expressing personal needs and rights
•
respects differences in appearances, race, religion, interests, and abilities
Community Programs to Support Social
and Mental Health
Develop a proposal for a community-based
program to promote better social or mental health
among the residents in the community. State the
overall goal of the program. Give reasons why this
program is needed and how it will achieve the goal.
Provide a brief description of how the program would
operate, who would oversee it, and the population
served by it. Estimate the cost to start and maintain
the program for one year. Find two references from
literature or professionals in the field to support your
program goals and cost estimates.
erences from
o support your 430
Part Five Other Aspects of Wellness
Managing Stress
You cannot avoid all stress.
However, you can learn to manage it.
Most healthy, productive people search
for ways to manage the stress in their
lives. Stress management provides
them with opportunities for personal
growth. Viewing stress as positive
allows people the chance to be creative.
Learning how to adapt to negative
stress helps people rationally deal with
the changes that occur throughout life.
You can use a number of
techniques to help you manage stress.
Begin by learning to recognize the
signs of stress. Rely on available
support systems. Learn how to relax
and use positive self-talk.
The key is to choose the methods
that most easily fi
t into your lifestyle.
Combine a variety of methods for
greatest effects on total health. Be sensi-
tive to other techniques that seem to
help you relax.
At the very least, learning how to
lessen the negative effects of stress can
help you enjoy life more. At best, you
can reduce your risks of disease and
improve your state of wellness.
Recognize Signs of
Stress
Identifying the warning signs of
stress in your life is an important fi
rst
step in stress management. Your emotions,
behaviors, and physical health may all
give you clues that negative stress is
starting to take a toll. Frustration,
irritability, and depression are common
emotional signs of distress. Withdrawing
from friends, grinding your teeth, and
forgetting details are behaviors that may
warn you of negative stress. Headaches,
upset stomach, and fatigue are health
indicators that you may have too much
stress in your life.
You can learn to read your body’s
stress signals through biofeedback.
Biofeedback
is a technique of focusing
on involuntary bodily processes in order
to control them. Using biofeedback
involves being aware of such conditions
as your breath and pulse rates. Hard
breathing or a rapid pulse rate may be
a sign of distress. When you realize
you are breathing hard or your pulse is
racing, you will know you may be under
stress. Then you can make a conscious
effort to relax and bring your breathing
and pulse back to normal levels.
Through biofeedback, you may be able
to avoid a headache or calm a nervous
stomach caused by stress.
Laughter—Medicine for Stress
Have you ever noticed how good you feel after
a good, hearty laugh? Research shows that laughter
is an excellent source of stress relief. Not only does
a hearty laugh reduce levels of stress hormones like
adrenaline,
it also increases beneficial hormones
like endorphins.
The next time you feel stressed
or frustrated, laugh about the situation instead
of worrying over it, watch a funny movie or your
favorite cartoon, read a joke book, or join some
friends for an evening of fun and laughter.
Personality, Stress, and Health
Research the relationship between personality
types and stress responses. Ask the school counselor
for references identifying literature on personality
types. How does personality type affect the risk of
health problems? Summarize your findings with a
poster presentation.
Extend Your Knowledge
feature
encourages you to seek more facts
on one or more chapter topics
Wellness Tips
suggest
ways to promote health
and fitness in your life
Colorful charts
amplify
concepts presented in the text.