Key Vocabulary: Words you need to know

Understanding mental health starts with having the right words. 

Below, you'll find 13 key terms that can help you describe emotions, challenges, and ways to take care of yourself.

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Emotions and Mental States

1. Stress / Stressed
➤ Stress is a feeling of pressure or worry. When you feel it, you are stressed.
🗨️ “She felt stressed before her big exam.”

2. Anxiety / Anxious
➤ Anxiety is a strong feeling of nervousness or fear. If you have it, you feel anxious.
🗨️ “He felt anxious before his job interview.”

3. Overwhelmed
➤ Feeling like everything is too much to handle.
🗨️ “I felt overwhelmed by all my responsibilities.”

4. Tired / Exhausted
➤ Tired means low energy. Exhausted means extremely tired.
🗨️ “After working late all week, I was completely exhausted.”

5. Burnout
➤ A state of extreme physical and mental fatigue caused by too much work or stress over time.
🗨️ “She experienced burnout after months of nonstop studying.”

6. Depression
➤ A serious condition where someone feels deeply sad, hopeless, or unmotivated for a long time.
🗨️ “He found it hard to enjoy things he used to love, so he talked to a professional about possible depression.”

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Feeling Disconnected or Out of Balance

7. Disconnected
➤ Feeling distant from others or not connected to your own emotions.
🗨️ “I felt disconnected from my friends after moving to a new city.”

8. Mood
➤ Your emotional state — happy, sad, calm, irritated, etc.
🗨️ “My mood changes quickly when I’m under pressure.”

9. Pressure
➤ A strong feeling that you must succeed, often from outside expectations.
🗨️ “He felt pressure to always do well at work.”

10. Balance
➤ A healthy mix of different areas of life — work, rest, fun, and relationships.
🗨️ “It’s important to find balance between your job and personal life.”

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Caring for Yourself and Others

11. Well-being
➤ A general state of health — physically, emotionally, and mentally.
🗨️ “Daily walks really help improve my well-being.”

12. Self-care
➤ Activities that support your health, happiness, and peace of mind.
🗨️ “Reading and quiet time are part of my self-care routine.”

13. Support
➤ Help from others — emotional, mental, or physical.
🗨️ “Talking to a friend gave me the support I needed.”

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 Reflect and Share

1. Which of these words are new to you?

2. Which ones describe how you’ve felt recently?

3. Write a few sentences using at least 3 of the words to describe your experience or give advice to others.

Example: “Last week I felt overwhelmed and exhausted, so I took time for self-care and reached out for support.”