As the events of the nation and world continue to unfold, many
on campus, and around the country and the world, may be feeling
anxious. It's natural and normal to be feeling anxiety in uncertain
times such as these. Here are some thoughts on anxiety and world
events.
In the unlikely scenario that world events result in an urgent
situation on campus or in the surrounding community, you can help
by being aware and cooperating with campus officials. You can
also help administrators and the campus as a whole by being aware
of your surroundings and reporting anything that seems suspicious
or out of the ordinary. Campus officials, such as RAs and Security
Staff, are trained to respond to a wide variety of scenarios and
situations. Letting a campus official know about something suspicious
will ensure that the proper authorities will handle any situation.
Stress, Fear and Anxiety
It is very normal to feel nervous and anxious these days. In addition
to your regular stresses (school, work, relationships, etc.) you
are hearing about terror alerts and possible war. Anxiety, stress
and fear are natural human reactions that help the body and mind
prepare for extreme situations. Prolonged anxiety can have negative
effects on a person. While today's headlines are frightening and
disturbing, it's important that you try to keep things in perspective.
Allow your anxiety to direct you into making good and safe choices
but it's important to ensure that your anxiety does not overwhelm
you.
When Anxiety Overwhelms You
Occasionally, people find that their anxiety overwhelms them.
When someone feels overwhelmed by his or her anxiety it can lead
to negative and destructive behaviors. Some signs that you are
being overwhelmed include (but are not limited to):
-A change in sleeping patterns. Either being unable to sleep or,
finding yourself always sleeping.
-Using substances to manage emotions. This includes alcohol, illegal
drugs, food and even prescription medication. Craving a substance
in order to manage your emotions is a dangerous behavior.
-Dramatic mood swings may also be an indicator of overwhelming
anxiety.
-Change in eating behaviors. Like sleep, you might find yourself
at one extreme or the other. Either eating nothing or very little
or eating large amounts of food.
-Physical changes. If you find yourself sweating or you feel your
heart racing you may be over- whelmed by anxiety. Sometimes when
we feel overly anxious we feel ill and feel like we require medical
attention. If you are feeling "out of sorts" it's always
a good idea to check with a health professional.
A good rule of thumb is that a significant change in your behavior
may be a sign that your anxiety is overwhelming you. If you find
yourself making choices you might not normally make, or doing
things you might not normally do, you may be reacting to your
anxiety. This is a sign that you may need some help managing your
anxieties.
Resources for Managing Your Anxiety
If you feel that anxiety is getting the best of you and having
a negative effect on your well being, you should do something
about it. Standard stress reduction techniques are always a good
idea. These include eating well, exercising and getting plenty
of good rest. In general, paying attention to your body and mind
and responding to your needs. However, if you're experiencing
significant behavioral changes it's also a good idea to talk with
someone about how you're feeling. Most anxiety problems can be
overcome with good discussions about the anxieties. Of course,
talking to friends is a good idea, but it is also important that
you talk with a campus professional. Campus professionals can
direct you to the best resources on your campus to help you overcome
your feelings of anxiety.
Looking out for Your Friends
Sometimes when we are experiencing extreme stress and anxiety
it is hard to see the negative behaviors we are inflicting upon
ourselves. When this happens we rely on friends and family to
help us recognize the situation. If you think one of your friends
is having trouble managing his or her anxiety you should take
steps to help. Of course, talking with them is a good idea; perhaps
you can even share this article with them. However, it's also
a good idea to let a campus professional know about your friend.
Campus professionals can help you decide what's in the best interest
of your friend.
The most important thing to remember is that while stress, fear
and anxiety are natural human reactions, managing these feelings
is an important part of being a mature adult. And, if we find
that we are not managing these feelings in positive ways, another
important piece of being a mature adult is to seek out the necessary
resources to help us manage our stress.
Campus Resources:
Your RA or AD
The Counseling Center (x4292)
The Chaplain or Peer Ministers (x4402)
The Health Center (x4292)
Your Advisor or Professor
Off-Campus Resources:
Iowa Health Physicians (clinic) 895-8841
Foundation 2 Crisis Line 362-2174
Anxiety Support Group 362-2174
Abbe Community Mental Health Center 398-3562
Additional Resources are available in the phone book
For more tips on dealing with anxiety
related to national or world events and war, check out the following links:
--The American Psychological Association has an article titled "Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering from Disasters and Other Traumatic Events".
--The American Psychological Association also has a brochure
titled "The Road to Resilience" (if this link is not working, go to www.apahelpcenter.org and type in "resilience" to get to the link for the brochure).
This brochure is full of information about resilience, ways to build resilience, and places to seek help.
