Health β the overall condition of the body or mind and the presence or absence of illness or injury
Wellness β optimal health and vitality, encompassing all the dimensions of well-being
Risk Factor β a condition that increases ones chances of disease or injury
Infectious Disease β a disease that can spread from person to person; caused by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses
Chronic Disease β a disease that develops and continues over a long period of time, such as heart disease or cancer
Lifestyle Choice β a conscious behaviour that increase or decrease a personβs risk of disease or injury; such behaviours include smoking, exercising, eating a healthy diet, etc.
Sex β the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and woman
Gender β the roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women
Genome β the complete set of genetic material in an individualβs cells
Gene β the basic unit of heredity; a section of genetic material containing chemical instructions for making a particular protein
Behaviour Change β a lifestyle management process that involves cultivating healthy behaviours and working to overcome unhealthy ones
Target Behaviour β an isolated behaviour selected as the object for a behaviour change program
Self-efficacy β the belief in oneβs ability to take action and perform a specific task
Locus of Control β the figurative βplaceβ a person designates as the source of responsibility for the events in his or her life
Stressor β a physical or psychological event or condition that produces stress
Stress Response β the physical and emotional changes associated with stress
Stress β the general physiological and emotional state that accompanies the stress response
Autonomic Nervous System β the branch of the nervous system that controls basic body processes; consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
Parasympathetic Division β a division of the autonomic that moderates the excitatory effect of that sympathetic division, slowing metabolism and restoring energy supplies
Sympathetic Division β a division of the autonomic nervous system that reacts to danger or other challenges by almost instantly accelerating body processes
Norepinephrine β a neurotransmitter released by the sympathetic nervous system onto specific tissues to increase their function in the face of increased activity; when released by the brain, causes arousal (increased attention, awareness, and alertness), also called noradrenaline
Endocrine System β the system of glands, tissues, and cells that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to influence metabolism and other body processes
Hormone β a chemical messenger produced in the body and transported in the bloodstream to target cells or organs for specific regulation of their activities
Cortisol β a steroid hormone secreted by the cortex (outer layer) of the adrenal gland; also called hydrocortisol
Epinephrine β a hormone excreted by the medulla (inner core) of the adrenal gland that effects the functioning of organs involved in responding to a stressor; also called adrenaline
Endorphins β brain secretions that have pain-inhibiting effects
Fight-or-Flight Reaction β a defense reaction that prepares an individual for conflict by triggering hormonal, cardiovascular, metabolic, and other changes
Homeostasis β a state of stability and consistency in an individualβs physiological functioning
Somatic Nervous System β the branch of the peripheral nervous system that governs motor functions and sensory information, largely under conscious control
Personality β the sum of behavioural, cognitive, and emotional tendencies
Gender Role β a culturally expected pattern of behaviour and attitudes determined by a personβs sex
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) β a pattern of stress responses consisting of three stages; alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
Eustress β stress resulting from a pleasant stressor
Distress β stress resulting from an unpleasant stressor
Allostatic Load β the long term negative impacts of the stress response on the body
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) β the study of the interactions among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems
Burnout β a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM) β the portion of the sleep cycle during which dreaming occurs
Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (non-REM) β the portion of the sleep cycle that involves deep sleep; non-REM sleep induces four states of successively deeper sleep
Sleep Deprivation β a lack of sleep over time
Insomnia β a sleep problem involving the inability to fall or stay asleep; affects more than 50% of adults
Sleep Apnea β the interruption of normal breathing during sleep
Relaxation Response β a physiological state characterized by a feeling of warmth and quiet mental alertness
Visualization β a technique for promoting relaxation or improving performance that involves creating or recreating vivid mental pictures of a place or experience; also called imagery
Meditation β a technique for quieting the mind by focusing on a particular word, object (such as a candle flame), or process (such as breathing)
Biofeedback β a technique in which monitoring devices help a person become conscious of unconscious body processes, such as body temperature or blood pressure, in order to exert some control over them
Psychological Health β mental health, defined either as the absense of illness or the presence of wellness
Self-actualization β the highest level of growth in Maslowβs hierarchy
Self-Concept β the ideas, feelings, and perceptions one has about oneself; also called self image
Self-Esteem β satisfaction and confidence in oneself; the valuing of oneself as a person
Autonomy β independence; the sense of being self-directed
Inner-Directed β guided in behaviour by the inner set of rules and values
Other-Directed β guided in behaviour by the values and expectations of others
Authenticity β genuineness
Normality β the psychological characteristics attributed to the majority of people in a population at a given time
Identity Crisis β internal confusion about who one is
Values β criteria for judging what is good and what is bad, which underlie oneβs moral decisions and behaviour
Cognitive Distortion β a pattern of negative thinking that makes events seem worse than they are
Self-Talk β the statements a person makes to himself or herself
Defense Mechanism β a mental mechanism for coping with conflict or anxiety
Assertiveness β expression that is forceful but not hostile
Anxiety β a feeling of fear that is not directed toward any definite threat
Simple (Specific) Phobia β a persistent and excessive fear of a specific object, activity, or situation
Social Phobia β an excessive fear of being observed in public; public speaking is the most common example
Panic Disorder β a syndrome of severe anxiety attacks accompanied by physical symptoms
Agoraphobia β an anxiety disorder characterized by fear of being alone away from help and avoidance of many different places and situations; in extreme cases, a fear of leaving homeβ¦ comes from Greek βfear of public marketβ
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) β an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about all kinds of things and anxiety in many situations
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) β an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts and the performing of senseless rituals
Obsession β a recurrent, irrational, unwanted thought or impulse
Compulsion β an irrational, repetitive, forced action, usually associated with an obsession
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) β an anxiety disorder characterized by reliving traumatic events through dreams, flashbacks, and hallucinations
Mood Disorder β an emotional disturbance that is intense and persistent enough to affect normal function; two common types of mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder
Depression β a mood disorder characterized by loss of interest, sadness, hopelessness, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, and other physical symptoms
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) β the use of electric shock to induce brief, generalized seizures; used in the treatment of selected psychological disorders
Seasonal Depressive Disorder (SAD) β a mood disorder characterized by seasonal depression, usually occurring during winter, when there is less daylight
Mania β a mood disorder characterized by excessive elation, irritability, talkativeness, inflated self-esteem, and expansiveness
Bipolar Disorder β a mental illness characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania
Schizophrenia β a psychological disorder that involve a disturbance in thinking and in perceiving reality
Placebo β a chemically inactive substance that a patient believes is an effective medical therapy for his or her condition. To help evaluate a therapy, medical researchers compare the effect of the particular therapy with the effects of the placebo. The βplacebo effectβ occurs when a patient responds to a placebo as if it were an active drug
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) β a disorder characterized by persistent, pervasive problems with inattention and/or hyperactivity to a degree that is not considered appropriate for a childβs developmental stage and that causes significant difficulties in school, work, or relationships
Stimulus β anything that causes a response
Response β a reaction to a stimulus
Reinforcement β increasing the future probability of a response by following it with a reward
Exposure β a therapeutic technique for treating fear in which the subject learns to come into direct contact with a feared situation
Drug β any chemical other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
Psychoactive Drug β a drug that can alter a personβs consciousness or experience
Intoxication β the state of being mentally affected by a chemical (literally; a state of being poisoned)
Addictive Behaviour β any habit that has gotten out of control, resulting in a negative effect on oneβs health
Addiction β psychological or physical dependence on a substance or behaviour, characterized by a compulsive desired and increasing need for the substance or behaviour, and by harm to the individual and/or society
Habituation β similar to addiction, involving the routine use of a substance, but without the level of compulsion or increasing need that characterizes addiction
Pharmacy β the art of compounding drugs from various substances
Pharmacology β the science and study of drugs
Substance Abuse β a maladaptive pattern of using any substance that persists despite adverse social, psychological or medical consequences. The pattern may be intermittent, with or without tolerance and physical dependence
Physical Dependence β the result of physiological adaptation that occurs in response to the frequent presence of a drug; typically associated with tolerance and withdrawal
Substance Dependence β a cluster of cognitive, behavioural, and physiological symptoms that occur in someone who continues to use a substance despite suffering significant substance-related problems leading to significant impairment or distress; also known as addiction
Tolerance β lower sensitivity to a drug so that a given dose no longer exerts the usual effect and larger doses are needed
Withdrawal β physical and psychological symptoms that follow the interrupted use of a drug on which a user is physically dependant; symptoms may be mild or life-threatening
Dual (Co-Occurring) Disorder β the presence of two or more mental disorders simultaneously in the same person; for example, drug addiction and depression
Neurotransmitter β a brain chemical that transmits nerve impulses
Pharmacological Properties β the overall effects of a drug on a personβs behaviour, psychology and chemistry
Dose-Response Function β the relationship between the amount of drug taken and the intensity and the type of the resulting effect
Time-Action Function β the relationship between the time elapsed since a drug was taken and the intensity of its effect
High β the subjectively pleasing effects of a drug, usually felt quite soon after the drug is taken
Placebo Effect β a response to an inert or innocuous medication given in place of an active drug
Opioid β any of several natural or synthetic drugs that relieve pain and cause drowsiness and/or euphoria; examples are opium, morphine, and heroin; also called narcotic
Euphoria β an exaggerated feeling of wellbeing
Depressant, or Sedative-Hypnotic β a drug that decreases nervous or muscular activity, causing drowsiness or sleep
Central Nervous System (CNS) β the brain and spinal cord
Sedation β the induction of a calm, relaxed, often sleepy state
Tranquilizer β a CNS depressant that reduces tension and anxiety
Anesthetic β a drug that produces a loss of sensation with or without a loss of consciousness
Stimulant β a drug that increases nervous or muscular activity
State Dependence β a situation in which information learned in a drug-induced state is difficult to recall when the effect of the drug wears off
Psychosis β a severe mental disorder characterized by a distortion of reality; symptoms might include delusions or hallucinations
Depersonalization β a state in which a person loses his or her reality or perceives his or her body as unreal
Hallucinogen β any of several drugs that alter perception, feelings, or thoughts; examples are LSD, mescaline, and PCP
Synesthesia β a condition in which a stimulus evokes not only the sensation appropriate to it but also another sensation of a different character; such as when a colour evokes a specific smell
Altered State of Consciousness β profound changes in mood, thinking, and perception
Flashback β a perceptual distortion or bizarre thought that recurs after the chemical effects of a drug have worn off
Codependency β a relationship in which a non-substance-abusing partner or family member is controlled by the abuserβs behaviour; codependent people frequently engage in enabling behaviours
Alcohol β the intoxicating ingredient in fermented or distilled beverages; a colourless pungent liquid
Proof Value β two times the percentage of alcohol by volume; a beverage that is 50% alcohol is 100 proof
One Drink β the amount of a beverage that typically contains about 0.6 ounce of alcohol; also called a standard drink
Metabolism β the chemical transformation of food and other substances in the body into energy and wastes
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) β the amount of alcohol in the blood in terms of weight per unit volume; used as a measure of intoxication
Cirrhosis β a disease in which the liver is severely damaged by alcohol, other toxins, or infection
Cardiac Myopathy β weakening of the heart muscle through disease
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) β a characteristic group of birth defects caused by excessive alcohol consumption by the mother, including facial deformities, heart defects, and physical and mental impairments
Alcohol Related Nuerodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) β cognitive and behaviour problems seen in people whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy
Alcohol Abuse β the use of alcohol to a degree that causes physical damage, impairs functioning, or results in behaviour harmful to others
Alcohol Dependence β a pathological use of alcohol or impairment in functioning due to alcohol; characterized by a tolerance and withdrawal symptoms; alcoholism
Alcoholism β a chronic psychological disorder characterized by excessive and compulsive drinking
Binge Drinking β periodically drinking alcohol to the point of severe intoxication
Hallucinations β a false perception that does not correspond to external reality, such as seeing visions or hearing voices that are not there
Delirium Tremens (the DTs) β a state of confusion brought on by the reduction of alcohol intake in and alcohol-dependant person; other symptoms are sweating, trembling, anxiety, hallucinations, and seizures
