Glossary of key terms

Familiarise yourself with these terms, since they appear throughout the course content and form part of the assessment.

Mood swing	A rapid and often unpredictable shift in your emotional state, ranging from elation to sadness, or from calm to anger.
Mood lability	Intense, rapidly shifting emotional responses that are out of proportion to whatever triggered them, associated with conditions including BPD and acquired brain injury.
Bipolar disorder	A mental health condition marked by episodes of mania, meaning elevated energy, reduced need for sleep and impulsivity, alternating with episodes of depression.
BPD (borderline personality disorder)	A mental health condition involving intense emotional responses, difficulty with self-image and unstable relationships, closely linked to mood lability.
Mania and hypomania	An elevated or irritable mood state with increased energy and activity. Mania is more severe and may need hospital care, while hypomania is a milder form that does not break from reality.
Trigger	Any stimulus, whether internal or external, that consistently produces a mood shift, which may be situational, cognitive, biological or social.
Cortisol	A hormone released in response to stress. Chronically high cortisol disrupts sleep, immune function and emotional regulation.
Endorphins	Neurochemicals released during physical activity that reduce the sense of pain and create a feeling of wellbeing, part of why exercise supports mood management.
Parasympathetic nervous system	The rest and digest branch of your nervous system, activated by controlled breathing techniques like box breathing to lower the body’s stress response.
Mindfulness	A practice of intentionally focusing your attention on the present moment without judgement, associated with reduced anxiety and steadier mood.
Guided learning hours (GLH)	A standard measure of learning time used in UK CPD certification. This course carries 0.5 GLH, made up of podcast listening time and interactive study.
CPD (continuing professional development)	A structured approach to building skills and knowledge after formal education. UK CPD-certified courses provide verifiable, portable certificates recognised by employers.