The subject of mental health is broad, to say the least. As with physical health, it spans countless areas, practices, disorders and treatments. At Centred, we’re always learning about the complex subject of mental health, but it would be impossible to cover every area here. So we’ve put together a brief and useful A-Z of some of the terms associated with mental health and wellbeing and what they mean.
Anxiety
It’s natural to feel anxious sometimes, but anxiety disorders can be serious mental illnesses. They can range from an underlying sense of worry to full-blown panic attacks. There are many effective treatments, and people living with anxiety can still live their lives fully.
Bad Days
Just as we sometimes feel physically unwell, it’s normal to have difficult mental health days where stress or low mood makes coping harder. On these days, it helps to slow down, look after yourself, and seek support if they start happening more often.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder involves periods of highs (mania) and lows (depression), which can vary in severity. The disorder can cause people to behave irresponsibly, irrationally or even to have suicidal thoughts but with the right combination of treatment, support, and self-help, many people live stable and fulfilling lives.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment that helps people challenge negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier, more realistic thinking, improving mood and coping ability.
Depression
Depression affects how people think, feel, and behave over long periods of time and can lead to deep sadness or loss of interest in life. Getting support and a proper diagnosis is an important first step, and many effective treatments can help people recover and rebuild their wellbeing.
Drug Use
Mental health issues and substance misuse often influence one another, and drugs or alcohol can often worsen symptoms or trigger episodes. When both issues are present, recovery is most effective when they are treated together.
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition which stems from the way people think about food. Unhealthy relationships with food can lead to restriction, bingeing, or avoidance. With the right support and treatment, people can manage symptoms and look forward to healthier, more hopeful futures.
Enpowerment
Empowerment is central to recovery, encouraging people to make informed choices about their lives rather than being treated only as patients. At Centred, we believe that supporting people to lead their own recovery journey, they gain confidence and a stronger sense of control over their future.
Friendships
Honest and open relationships with friends and family play an important role in mental wellbeing. Having trusted people to talk to openly can reduce stress, ease negative thoughts, and support a healthier, happier life.
Food
Known as the second brain, our gut is responsible for creating 90% of serotonin (the feel-good chemical) in our bodies. Eating nutritious food, staying hydrated, and reducing alcohol can improve mood, energy, and mental clarity.
Grief
Grief is a natural response to losing someone, but for some people the intensity of emotions can affect mental health. Understanding the process and asking for support can help prevent more serious difficulties from developing.
Help
Asking for help for your own mental health or someone else’s can feel daunting and confusing. Reaching out to a trusted person is a significant step toward finding support and beginning to feel better. Find help at our Discovery College if you are struggling.
Holistic
A holistic approach to recovery looks at the person’s life as a whole, including relationships, housing, work, education, physical health, and belief systems. It’s about listening to the person, not just their symptoms, to find the best treatment or actions to take to improve wellbeing.
Hope
Having hope for the future can balance out negative feelings and thoughts and help people cope during difficult times. Hope is an important part of recovery because it strengthens resilience. We can build hope through setting clear goals, focusing on small steps, engaging in self-care and creating connections with others.
Isolation
Social isolation and reduced contact with others can lead to loneliness and poorer mental health. Reconnecting with people, even gradually, can help restore confidence and improve wellbeing. Try one of our Wellness Walks if you are feeling isolated.
Job Anxiety
We can often feel stressed, anxious or nervous about our performance, meetings, presentations, and travelling for work. It can be difficult to bring up anxiety in work. You should talk to someone you trust and see if your job has workplace therapy, which can help you understand your experiences and develop ways to cope.
Kindness
Kindness can have a hugely beneficial impact on our mental health, making us feel less anxious and more included. As well as small acts of kindness, kinder environments in schools, workplaces, and communities can significantly reduce stress.
Loneliness
Loneliness is different from isolation in that you can feel lonely even if you are surrounded by other people. Loneliness is closely linked with mental health difficulties. Support services and community groups can help people feel less alone and more confident about social contact.
Mood Swings
Mood swings may be linked to hormones, stress, or life changes, but they can also signal a deeper mental health difficulty. If they begin to affect daily life, seeking support and treatment can help. Successful treatments include talking therapy and lifestyle changes.
Nature
There is increasing evidence that spending time in nature can calm the mind, reduce anxiety and stress, and improve overall wellbeing. Nature is free and something we can usually always access.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts and/or repetitive behaviours or compulsions that can feel overwhelming and controlling, making it difficult to lead a fulfilling life. Although challenging, many effective treatments and support groups are available to help people manage symptoms.
Psychosis
Psychosis is a symptom rather than a condition itself. It involves losing touch with reality, such as hearing, seeing or believing things that aren’t real. Treatment always depends on personal circumstances, but successful treatments include psychotherapy or medication.
Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are a physical reaction to intense fear. These attacks can often be triggered by social situations. Understanding triggers and seeking support or treatment can reduce their frequency and prevent panic disorder from developing. If you have recurring panic attacks, your GP can help by referring you for CBT sessions or prescribing medication.
Peer Support
Peer support brings together people with shared experiences, offering emotional connection, understanding, and practical guidance that can play an important role in recovery. Peer Supporters have experience of issues and then receive training to be able to provide support to others who are experiencing something similar.
Person-Centred
At Centred, we understand person-centred care treats each individual as unique, considering their strengths, preferences, culture, and lived experience to find the most effective pathway to recovery.
Quiet Time
Quiet time, mindfulness, or meditation can reduce stress and create space for calmer thoughts, supporting better mental wellbeing during difficult periods. You should prioritise quiet time if you are feeling overwhelmed to ensure you get the space you need to unwind.
Recovery
Recovery is different for everyone. For some it means symptoms resolve completely, while for others it means ongoing improvement, better coping strategies and small lifestyle changes. Centred believes in working towards improving the quality of each person’s life experiences whatever their background or support needs.
Respect
Every person deserves respect from others, but they also need to practice self-respect. Overcoming stigma and encouraging both respect from others and self-respect is essential in recovery, helping people rebuild confidence and belief in themselves.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can involve hallucinations, delusions, or changes in thinking. With the right treatment and support, many people are able to manage symptoms and live fulfilling lives.
Suicide
A high number of people who suffer from mental health issues commit or attempt suicide. It is the most common cause of death for men aged 20-49 in the UK. Suicidal thoughts are a sign that you should seek support immediately. With compassionate support and treatment, people recover and find hope again.
Self-Harm
Self-harm is often a way of coping with overwhelming feelings or emotions, rather than an attempt to seek attention. Breaking the cycle involves understanding the distress behind it and letting someone know the distress you are feeling. There are other ways to cope with these thoughts.
Therapy
While many people think of medication as the main course of treatment for mental health problems, therapy is one of the most effective ways to promote recovery. Therapy allows people to explore their experiences with a trained professional, understand the causes of their difficulties, and develop strategies that support recovery.
Talking About It
Besides talking to a trained therapist, talking about mental health with someone trusted can bring reassurance and relief, and is often the first step toward getting help and beginning to recover.
Understanding
The more people understand that mental health is something we all have, and that mental illness is just like a physical illness, the closer we get to moving away from the belief that it’s frightening or something to be ashamed of. Public understanding of mental health has improved. Continuing to increase awareness helps people recognise that mental illness is common, real, and treatable, like physical illnesses.
Violence
Although some conditions and situations can be linked to violent behaviour, most people experiencing mental health issues are no more likely to be violent than anyone else and are more often at risk themselves.
Wellbeing
Good mental health is a key part of overall wellbeing, which also involves emotional, physical, and social aspects of life and how we experience and enjoy it.
Young People
One in six children in the UK aged 5 to 16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in 2021. Mental health difficulties affect many young people, but early intervention at schools and education on mental health, are making it more accessible for young people to get support.