Health Center offers anxiety screening today

In college, when tests arrive, students are often stressed. \nBut while the stress may go away when the all-nighter cram session is over, many students continue to stress.\nWhen stress is taken to the next level and the symptoms continue after the original stressor is over, students may be facing an anxiety disorder. \nThe IU Health Center Counseling and Psychological Services and the Health and Wellness Educators will host the annual Anxiety Disorders Awareness and Screening Day today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the School of Education atrium and the Kelly School of Business north entrance.\nCaPS has taken part in the nationwide screening event since 1996, provided by the National Campaign on Anxiety and Depression Awareness. Bloomington residents are also welcome. \nThe national campaign said anxiety disorders alone effect more than 19 million Americans every year.\nGlenn Anderson, who works for CaPS, said anxiety disorders involve an imbalance between the situation and the degree of anxiety a person experiences. Anxiety disorders involve some degree of overestimation of danger, a sense of vulnerability and a lack of confidence to deal with problems and situations.\nAnderson said as anxiety becomes more persistent and is less connected to "real dangers," it is no longer normal anxiety but shifts to an anxiety disorder.\nA sign of an anxiety disorder may be when an individual is constantly worrying and cannot do the things most people do easily on a day-to-day basis, Anderson said \nMany common symptoms include worrying, rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, tunnel vision and flashbacks.\nStudents who are encountering these problems or students who know of someone who might have an anxiety disorder are encouraged to attend the screening today.\nChris Meno, an intern at CaPS, said anxiety disorders are one of the most common disorders they see among students.\n"The event is a good chance for students to learn and see about symptoms they would overlook and write off," Meno said. "There are a lot of good treatments, and students should know that they do not have to suffer."\nStudents are encouraged to participate in a number of events throughout the screening. An activity quiz with a series of 50 questions will be provided to each participant. The activity is designed to seek out individuals who have a high probability of having an anxiety disorder.\nAnderson said the testing instruments were developed nationally, and after the participant completes the activity, a mental health professional will score the quiz and provide them with immediate feedback.\nAll students are encouraged to stop by and participate. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in other activities where they can win prizes.\n"We want to raise awareness of mental health issues and educate students about the different kinds of disorders," Anderson said. "And if the students have a problem, we want them to seek further treatment."\nThere are many opportunities for students who are dealing with anxiety disorders. CaPS is a counseling center available to students for individual counseling.\n"Short-term counseling can be very effective," Meno said. "We help students learn problem-solving techniques and teach them more effective coping strategies."\nAnderson said students are told to exercise to help relieve anxiety disorders. They are also taught relaxation techniques, behavioral strategies and provided with medication consultation.\nAnderson said the screening is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about what anxiety disorders are because many students will experience anxiety at some point in their lives.\n-- Contact staff writer Kristin Huett at khuett@indiana.edu.