PSYCHOLOGY TERMS EXPLAINED
This glossary of psychology terms is meant to be a helpful resource as you navigate my website.
Acute stress disorder
A reaction sometimes observed in individuals who have experienced a traumatic event, characterised by recurrent nightmares and waking flashbacks. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one such example.
Bereavement
The state of grief and mourning over the death of someone close or significant to the individual.
PTSD
A mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
Social Anxiety
Fear or discomfort in social situations, leading to avoidance behavior or intense anxiety about being judged or embarrassed.
Self Esteem
The subjective evaluation of one’s own worth and value, influencing confidence and self-perception.
Counselling Psychology Services
Professional mental health services focused on emotional health, life challenges, personal growth, and coping with stress or trauma.
Depression
The mental state of being negative, with no hope for the future, wherein everything looks bleak and hopeless for the individual.
Emotional Abuse
Manipulation by a perpetrator to emotionally hurt another person.
Anxiety
A feeling that is unpleasant and which is associated with fear, uneasiness or worry.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is a psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being judged, embarrassed or humiliated by others, owing to one’s own actions.
Abnormal Behavior
Actions that do not fit within the norms of society.
Bipolar Disorder
A mental and emotional illness whereby a person swings between two opposite poles of emotions.
Coping Mechanisms
Adaptive strategies or behaviours used to manage stress, adversity, or challenging situations.
Mindfulness
The practice of paying attention to the present moment with acceptance and without judgment, fostering awareness and emotional regulation.
Panic Attack
Sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath.
Psychological Assessment
Evaluation of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning to inform treatment.
Trauma
A physical wound or shock to the body produced by sudden physical injury, such as violence or a car wreck; also, an experience that causes significant psychological pain or suffering.
Acting Out
An action that is performed, going by the impulsive behavior, rather than constructively responding to a particular situation. Such actions are generally anti-social in nature, and the person might end up causing harm to himself or others.
Mental Health
Used to indicate a condition of emotional and cognitive well-being or the absence of any kind of mental disorder.
self-actualization
The need to realize one’s full potential
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