www.TalkingDoc.net

Current Terms:
• Resilience
• Mental Health
• Well Being...
• Psychologist vs.
     Psychiatrist
• Cognitive-behavioral
   therapy

Fun Facts & FAQs

You may have heard of some of these terms... You may have questions about them.

Resilience

A process of learning to adapt well despite significant stressors, threats, adverse life changes, trauma, money problems, relationship issues – that is resilience. Being able to “bounce back” and keep on coping effectively with life – that is resilience. Research has found that to many of us, resilience seems natural and ordinary – just doing what needs to be done. It was resilience that enabled Americans to rebuild their lives after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Being resilient does not mean that you do not have problems, or even get down sometimes. What it means is being able to cope, continue with what is important to you in life despite adversity. Resilience is not an inborn trait; it is a set of skills, behaviors and thinking patterns that can be learned and developed by anyone.

Mental Health

Sometimes we think there’s something dark and scary when we consider this term. Really, mental health is just the way your thoughts, behavior and feelings add up and affect your life. Good mental health contributes to our having positive self-images, and satisfying relationships with friends and loved ones. Having good mental health means you show good judgment in your life and choices; You are able to deal with the “slings and arrows” of life at home, work and school in ways that enable you to keep on keeping on.

Psychological well-being + resilience =

• Being able to plan realistically and cope with those things in your life that are “stressing you out” so you achieve what you want
• Feeling good about yourself and feeling confident that you have what it takes to live happily and successfully
• Communicating and solving problems skillfully
• Managing strong feelings and impulses in ways you can feel good about
• Being able to stay physically healthy despite stress, anxiety and other bumps along the way
   

Psychologist | Psychiatrist
What’s the difference?

Psychologists have doctoral degrees and are licensed by the state in which they practice. They receive one of the highest levels of education of all health care professionals – in fact, psychologists spend an average of seven years in education and training after they receive their undergraduate degree.

Psychiatrists first attend medical school, and then decide to specialize in psychiatry. They complete a residency of several years to accomplish this. The other distinction that seems key to people is that in most states (Louisiana is one exception, for example): psychiatrists can prescribe medications for depression, anxiety, etc. and psychologists do not.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Glad you asked. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy based on the idea that they way we perceive situations affects how we feel emotionally. First the perception, then the feeling follows. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on teaching people problem-solving skills designed to help them recognize and restructure their problems and thinking patterns, to relate better to others and to change behaviors that may be causing them difficulties. Among the problems that can be helped with cognitive-behavioral therapy are depression, panic disorder, eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective in helping people with these problems.