CAPS events will help students unwind for finals

Between finals, moving for the summer and saying goodbye to friends, many IU students are feeling end-of-the-year stress. \nWith this in mind, Counseling and Psychological Services will host “Stress-less Final Exams” at the Herman B Wells Library Tuesday through Thursday. The free event will feature anonymous anxiety screenings, relaxation techniques and other activities to help students deal with their stress. \nFrom noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, students can enjoy stress-relieving activities such as the “comfort corner,” which includes toys such as play dough, coloring books, board games, Silly Putty, crossword puzzles and electric cars.\nActivities will be set up “to remind students that stress management involves some really easy techniques” in everyday life, said Ilene Buck, a CAPS intern and program co-chair.\nThe event will also include anonymous anxiety screenings in the form of paper questionnaires. Students will be asked to answer questions such as “Do you feel nervous or constantly on your guard?” and “Do you have difficulty sleeping?” \nWhile they cannot make on-the-spot diagnoses, trained counselors will give students immediate feedback on whether they should seek further assessment or treatment, said Chris Meno, a psychologist and CAPS outreach coordinator. \nMeno said the screening is one of four CAPS conducts every year. The others test for depression, alcohol abuse or body image issues such as eating disorders.\nScott Branam, director of Bloomington Hospital Behavioral Health Services, said stress can have many physical symptoms.\n“It has caused them to feel physically ill – (to) not be able to sleep,” he said, naming irritability, poor appetite, vomiting, nausea and muscle tension as other symptoms. “It can even make your skin break out.”\nBuck warned that many students ignore these symptoms of stress, which can affect academic performance.\n“When you do that, you’re not taking care of yourself,” she said. “You’re not able to function as well.”\nBranam recommends students give up certain activities to decrease stress.\n“Lighten your daily load of obligations,” he added. “Look at your calendar and what you have to do and what you’ve agreed to do, but don’t really have the time to do, and remove those things.”\nAt the event, students can also pick up a free CD with relaxation exercises for deep-breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and sleep induction techniques.\nAt 7 p.m. Tuesday and 1 p.m. Wednesday, a psychologist will lead a 60-minute class that will teach students how to perform deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation. In addition, Health Center massage therapists will give students free seated chair massages from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.\nStudents can also download free relaxation audio files to their iPods or computer from the CAPS Web site.