.png)
The M Word: A Glossary
- The M Word
- Mar 3, 2021
- 8 min read
Updated: Mar 6, 2021
The Glossary is an ever evolving and growing tool to support our understanding and develop a wider horizon in our ever expanding learning, about ourselves and our journey to well-being.
A
Abuse
Intentional harming of a person this can be Physical,Psychological,Financial,Sexual or Neglect
Acknowledgement
Acceptance of the truth or existence of something, knowing that it is there and allowing the thought or feeling
Addiction
Repeated actions despite harm to self other others
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can include symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness
Advocacy
Any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others
Affirmation
The practice of positive thinking and self-empowerment—fostering a belief that "a positive mental attitude supported by affirmations will achieve success
Anger
Intense emotional reaction in response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat
Anxiety
A natural response when we perceive that we are under threat. When maladaptive it can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations
Anxiety GAD
Generalised anxiety disorder vary from person to person, but is a constant worrying, a sense of dread, fear and difficulty concentrating
Attunement
Applied to therapy, attunement is a term used to describe our reactiveness to ourselves, the moment and other in an emotional way
Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) is a complex developmental condition that involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors. The effects of ASD and the severity of symptoms are different in each person.
Autopilot
A state of mind in which one acts without conscious thought or intention with little or no awareness of present-moment sensory perceptions around them
B
Bereavement
A state of being when people who have suffered a loss, typically the death of a loved one grieve
Bipolar Disorder
A mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks
Borderline Personality Disorder
A mental health disorder that impacts the way you think and feel about yourself and others, causing problems functioning in everyday life. It can include self-image issues, difficulty managing emotions and behavior, and a pattern of unstable relationships
C
CBT
Action-oriented form of psychosocial therapy that assumes that maladaptive or faulty thinking patterns cause maladaptive behaviour and “negative” emotions. The treatment focuses on changing thoughts (cognitive patterns) in order to change their behaviour and emotional state.
Cognitive distortions
Ways that our mind convinces us of something that isn't really true. These inaccurate thoughts are usually used to reinforce negative thinking or emotions
Consent
An agreement between participants to engage in activity. Consent should be clearly and freely communicated.
Complex PTSD
A condition where you experience some symptoms of PTSD along with some additional symptoms, such as: difficulty controlling your emotions. feeling very angry or distrustful towards the world
Core Beliefs
Basic beliefs about ourselves, other people, and the world we live in. They are things we hold to be absolute truths deep down, underneath all our “surface” thoughts. ... A core belief is something you accept as true without question
D
Depression
Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Difficult Feelings
consists of feelings, behaviour, physiological change and cognitions that you may find difficult to explain or understand - Can be about anything
Dissociation
A disconnect in how your mind handles information. You may feel disconnected from your thoughts, feelings, memories, and surroundings. It can affect your sense of identity and your perception of time. The symptoms often go away on their own. It may take hours, days, or weeks
Displacement
An unconscious defence mechanism whereby the mind substitutes either a new aim or a new object for goals felt in their original form to be dangerous or unacceptable
E
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is a mental health condition where you use the control of food to cope with feelings and other situations.
Unhealthy eating behaviours may include eating too much or too little or worrying about your weight or body shape
Ecotherapy
Ecotherapy acknowledges the rehabilitative role of nature and humanity’s connection to the environment
Emotional Regulation
Describes a person's ability to effectively manage and respond to an emotional experience this may be
conscious or unconscious
Existential Crisis
The existential crisis is characterized by extreme negative emotions which often cause people to question their place in life, their worth, or their purpose
F
FOMO
The feeling of anxiety or motivation often due to social media where individuals feel they want to belong to some group, event, or even a moment that others are posting about (Fear of missing out)
G
Grief
Physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and cognitive responses to lany form of loss
Grounding
Grounding is a type of coping strategy, a skill that is designed to "ground" you in, or immediately connect you with, the present moment. Grounding is often used as a way of coping with flashbacks or dissociation when you have post-traumatic stress disorder
H
Hopelessness
Emotion characterized by a lack of hope, optimism, and passion. An individual who feels hopeless may often have no expectation of future improvement or success
I
Independent Advocate
Professional independent advocacy is about speaking up for an individual or group. Independent Advocacy is a way to help people have a stronger voice and to have as much control as possible over their own lives. An independent advocate may speak on behalf of people who are unable to do so for themselves
IDVA -Independent Domestic Violence Advisor
Independent Domestic Violence Advisor who offers you support. The IDVA is the key point of contact for you as a survivor of domestic abuse throughout the court process and longer term can refer you to another support service
IMCA - Independent Mental Capacity Advocate
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 introduced the role of the independent mental capacity advocate (IMCA). IMCAs are a legal safeguard for people who lack the capacity to make specific important decisions
IMHA - Independent Mental Health Advocate
An IMHA is an independent advocate who is trained in the Mental Health Act and supports people to understand their rights under the Act and participate in decisions about their care and treatment
Incongruent
Lack of alignment between the real self and the ideal sel
Interventions
intervention is an effort made by individuals or groups to improve the well-being of someone else who either is in need of help but refusing it or is otherwise unable to initiate or accept help
J
K
L
M
Maladaptive
Maladaptive behaviour is behaviour that is counter-productive or interferes with everyday living.
Mantra
The rhythmic repetition of words, phrases to clear the mind an focus on the present moment to aid wellbeing and posative mental energy
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress
N
Narcissism
A mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others
O
OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental health condition where you have recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviours that you cannot control
P
Pathological
If something is caused by a physical or mental disease, it is pathological. ... If a person has, for example, obsessive-compulsive disorder, his or her repetitive actions are pathological
Panic Attacks
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying
Paranoia
Paranoia involves intense anxious or fearful feelings and thoughts often related to persecution, threat, or conspiracy. Paranoia occurs in many mental disorders, but is most often present in psychotic disorders
Personality Disorders
A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time. 1. There are 10 specific types of personality disorders
Phobias
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. Phobias typically result in a rapid onset of fear and are present for more than six months
Postnatal Depression
Postnatal depression is a type of depression that parents can have after having a baby.
Symptoms of postnatal depression include constant sadness, lack of energy and difficulty bonding with your baby
PTSD
A disabling condition characterised by flashbacks and nightmares, avoidance and numbing, and hyper-vigilance”. The symptoms are caused by an external, traumatic event such as experiencing or witnessing life endangerment, death or serious injury or threat
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
(PMDD) is a health problem that is similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) but is more serious. PMDD causes severe irritability, depression, or anxiety in the week or two before your period starts. Symptoms usually go away two to three days after your period starts
Projection
Psychological projection is a defense mechanism in which the ego defends itself against unconscious impulses or qualities by denying their existence in themselves by attributing them to others
Psychosis
Psychosis is where you see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations) or believe things that are not true (delusions)
Q
R
Rumination
The process of continuously thinking about the same thoughts, which tend to be sad or dark, is called rumination. A habit of rumination can be dangerous to your mental health, as it can prolong or intensify depression as well as impair your ability to think and process emotions
S
SAD
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition where you may see, hear or believe things that are not real
Self Care
Self-care is any necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated
Self-Compassion
Extending compassion to one's self in instances of perceived inadequacy
Self - Destructive
Self-destructive behavior is when you do something that's sure to cause self-harm, whether it's emotional or physical. Some self-destructive behavior is more obvious, such as: attempting suicide. binge eating but can also include self-neglect
Self -Esteem
An individual's subjective evaluation of their own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame
Self-Harm
Self-harm is the act of deliberately injuring oneself, in any form
Self Sabotage
Self-sabotage refers to behaviors or thought patterns that hold you back and prevent you from doing what you want to do
Self Fulfilling Prophecy
A sociological term used to describe a prediction that causes itself to become true. Therefore, the process by which a person's expectations about someone can lead to that someone behaving in ways which confirm the expectations
Sleep Hygiene
Building habits that help you have a good night's sleep
Stress
Stress is often defined as a bodily response to the demands of life. But there are also emotional and mental aspects of stress. It is experienced as thoughts and feelings as well as in the body
Social Media Drain
Draining or negative feelings associated with excessive social media usage, that causes negative feelings about self and others
Suppression
Ignoring or pushing away feelings that you do not want to deal with at that time, long term suppression can have ,long lasting negative effects on and individuals mental health
T
Therapy
The treatment of mental or psychological disorders by psychological means
Trauma
An emotional response to a terrible event. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea
U
Unpacking
Therapeutic method of looking at logically at issues and problem that are usually emotive and causing an individual difficulty
V
Validation
Validation therapy focuses on helping the person work through the emotions behind challenging behaviors
Vicarious Trauma
Vicarious trauma is the emotional residue of exposure that health and mental health professionals have from working with people as they are hearing their trauma stories and become witnesses to the pain, fear, and terror that trauma survivors have endured
Vision Board
A separate therapeutic technique from art therapy. These tactile and visual tools are used to help you set goals around your career, family, romantic relationships, and more
W
Work Related Stress
The adverse stress, anxiety or physical reaction people have to excessive pressure of work or other types of demands placed on them
Worry
A negative form of thinking about the future, excessively thinking about future events in a way that leaves you feeling anxious or apprehensive. Clinically, excessive worry is the primary symptom of generalized anxiety disorder
Weariness
Temporary feeling of low energy and tiredness, usually due to a busy period in day to day life and work
X
Y
Z
Comments