Psychology is the study of mental states and behavior. You use psychology in your everyday life to help ease stress, aid someone in crisis, and tune in to a potentially suicidal friend. Psychology professionals help people cope with and overcome a variety of disorders from ADD and depression to the turmoil caused by financial woes and substance abuse.
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What to Do in a Psychological Crisis
Whether you know a lot or not very much about psychology, it’s useful to have some basic ideas of how to help when someone is in a state of panic or extremely angry about something. No matter what your qualifications, you can use psychological first aid — a form of crisis intervention that consists of five easy steps:
Connect: Make psychological contact with the person in crisis.
Make eye contact and communicate a sense of caring. Use a calm voice. If you think the person may be dangerous, keep a safe distance and use non-threatening, nonverbal behavior. (Don’t point at them or cross your arms, for example.)
Explore: Find out the who, what, when, why, where, and how of their current crisis.
Seek solutions: Help the individual generate his or her own solutions; only suggest solutions if he or she can’t come up with anything.
Take action: Assist the person in taking action based on the agreed-upon solution.
Follow up: Agree to a time or a place in the near future that you will check on the person to see if the crisis was resolved or if he or she needs further assistance.
If someone you know is in crisis, these steps should help. However, they’re not intended to take the place of a competent mental health or emergency services professional. If you feel that you’re in over your head in a situation, do not hesitate to contact your local crisis hotline, which you can find in your local phone book.
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Suicide Warning Signs
Recognizing the warning signs of suicide doesn’t take a degree in psychology. That’s not to say that some signs aren’t subtle or that every person who thinks about suicide shows all the signs. But, if you notice the following signs in yourself or someone else, take action. You’ll never regret trying to stop someone from choosing a final solution to a temporary problem.
Suicide notes
Direct threats
Giving personal belongings away
Talking about or preoccupied with death
Hopelessness
Social isolation
Abrupt changes in appearance, risk-taking behavior, activities, or weight
Severe depression
Extreme apathy (acting like he or she doesn’t care)
Feeling helpless or beyond help
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How to Cope with Psychological Stress
Stress is a constant in everyone’s life. It seems that nobody is immune. Fortunately, the psychology behind stress relief is pretty straightforward, and you can ease your own stress with help from the tips in the following list:
Accept responsibility: Take charge of your own part in things.
Analyze the situation logically: Try looking at a situation more logically.
Gather information: The more you know, the better you’re able to cope.
Reappraise or reframe the situation: Look at a situation from a different perspective and try to see the positive side of things.
Seek guidance and support: Ask for help.
Use problem-solving skills: Come up with alternatives, select an alternative, and reevaluate the outcomes.
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Types of Psychology Professionals
The field of psychology boasts several types of professionals with varying training and areas of expertise. The following table shows the types of professionals in the mental health field, their qualifications and specialties:
| Professional Title | Qualifications and Specialties |
|---|---|
| Psychologist | Possesses a doctoral degree in psychology. Licensed by the state in which he or she practices. Specializes in psychological treatment of mental disorders, psychological assessment and testing, and related consultation. If you or someone you care about is experiencing any symptoms of mental illness (depressed mood, bizarre behavior, disordered speech), consider a visit to a local psychologist. |
| Psychiatrist | Possesses a medical degree. Licensed to practice medicine in his or her respective state. Specializes in the treatment of mental disorders from a biological perspective with the use of medications. Some psychiatrists conduct psychotherapy, but it’s not their typical focus. If you or someone you care about is experiencing any symptoms of mental illness (depressed mood, bizarre behavior, disordered speech), consider a visit to a local psychiatrist. |
| Social worker | Typically possesses a master’s degree. Licensed as a clinical social worker or a psychiatric social worker in his or her state. Specializes in issues of social welfare and assisting individuals with problematic social circumstances and relationships, such as domestic violence or child abuse. Social workers also conduct therapy and counseling for groups and individuals. Someone should consider visiting a social worker if he or she is having problems living with his or her financial situation and needs help finding and accessing resources. |
| Other professionals | Other mental health or affiliated professionals include drug counselors, marriage and family therapists, pastoral counselors, school counselors, and school psychologists. |
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Common Psychological Disorders and Where to Seek Help for Them
Psychology involves not just mental health but physical behavior, and many of the most common psychological disorders are recognizable by the way people act under their influence. The following table lists the most common psychological disorders and recommends places and Web sites to visit for help.
| Disorder | Where to Go for Help | Web Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder | A visit to any local psychologist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, or family doctor is a good place to start. | American Psychological Association American Medical Association CHADD |
| Major depression | A visit to any local psychologist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, or family doctor is a good place to start. | American Psychological Association American Medical Association Internet Mental Health |
| Generalized anxiety disorder | A visit to any local psychologist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, or family doctor is a good place to start. | American Psychological Association American Medical Association Internet Mental Health |
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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/psychology-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
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