Exploring Mental Health: Normal vs. Pathological Crisis Reactions

This essay explores the nuances of mental health reactions in crisis situations, differentiating between normal and pathological responses. Normal reactions are primarily centered, recognizable through facial expressions, and include emotions like fear, happiness, anger, disgust, and sadness. Pathological responses, on the other hand, are secondary, private, and internal, manifesting as anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, acute stress disorder) and mood disorders (traumatic grief, major depressive disorder). The timeframe is also crucial, with normal responses reacting to immediate threats and pathological responses anticipating future crises. Several factors influence mental reactions, including personality, social interaction (isolation), self-care (risky behaviors), and overall pessimism. The essay references public mental health resources and research on depression and anxiety, providing a comprehensive overview of mental health in crisis scenarios.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH 1
Mental Health
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

MENTAL HEALTH 2
Mental Health
When a crisis occurs, people respond in different ways. Some people may develop fear
while others may develop anxiety. However, most of the reactions are mind centered thus the
name mental reactions. Therefore, this essay is set to discuss the difference between normal
reactions and pathological reactions and explore the factors that necessitate the determination of
mental reactions in a crisis event.
Firstly, normal reactions are usually primarily centered. The reactions are usually
recognizable through facial expressions (Matthew, et, al. 2018). The reactions do not only exist
within different social cultures but can also be interpreted by the observer. The symptoms of
such emotions can be physical, emotional or cognitive. Such reactions include fear, happiness,
anger, disgust, and sadness.
On the other hand, pathological responses are often secondary reactions. Such reactions
are considered private and internal. Such symptoms include anxiety disorders such as
generalized anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and acute stress disorder (Eaton,
2012). The symptoms also entail mood disorders like traumatic and complicated grief and major
depressive disorder.
Secondly, the narrative of differentiating normal responses from pathogenic responses
circumnavigates the aspect of timeframe. Normal responses such as fear anticipate reacting to the
crisis that is currently detected in the current immediate present moment. On the other hand,
pathogenic responses such as anxiety respond to an anticipated crisis that may or may not occur
in the future.

MENTAL HEALTH 3
There are plenty of factors that help in the determination of mental reactions in a crisis
event. Firstly, one’s personality plays a significant event. When an individual reacts in a different
manner that is contrary to his/her personal feelings, they are most likely to be experiencing
mental reactions. Facial expression may also clarify moodiness, anger, fear or anxiety. The social
factor is also a significant factor. Isolation and withdrawal is a sign of mental reactions. Self-care
is also very significant. Risky behaviors and lack of self-care is a sign of mental reactions.
Finally, an individual with a mental disturbance is always pessimistic.

MENTAL HEALTH 4
References
Eaton, W.W. (2012). Public Mental Health. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN#:
9780190211165 (print).
Matthew, et, al. (2018). Depression: Depression and Relates conditions normal and abnormal
anxiety: what’s the difference[online]? Retrieved from:
https://www.gulfbend.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=38464&cn=5