Free anxiety disorder screening offered
April 12, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Do you worry a lot?
You're not alone. But you just might have a problem.
More than 38 million Americans suffer from anxiety and/or depressive disorders, including such celebrities as Naomi Judd, Donny Osmond, Marc Sommers and Kim Bassinger. And the good news is there's help.
Two free educational sessions and screenings on anxiety disorders, their symptoms and effective treatments are being offered on Wednesday, April 17, at Western Michigan University. Sponsored by the WMU School of Social Work and the Counseling and Testing Center, the sessions are part of National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day and will take place from noon to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 105 of the Bernhard Center.
The program includes a video and information about anxiety disorders and other mental illnesses. Participants will be asked to complete a screening questionnaire. The questionnaire will be reviewed with a mental health professional and a referral for additional help will be provided, if necessary.
Symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders include excessive worrying, fear of social situations, panic attacks, feeling sad or "blue," difficulty sleeping or concentrating and headaches for no apparent reason. The disorder affects people across racial, gender, age and economic lines. In addition to celebrities, successful business people, professionals and many others suffer from it.
People often do not get treatment, however. Sometimes symptoms are mistaken for another medical illness or go undiagnosed, or people are ashamed of seeking help or don't know enough about anxiety and depressive disorders to realize they have a problem. National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day is designed to help people get the answers they need.
For more information or to register, if possible, call (269) 387-3193.
Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 269 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu