"Mental Health Q & A"
April 2005
	Have questions about mental health? Send us an email and we'll try to address them in the next newsletter! ______________ »Can stress lead to depression? Yes, stress can lead to depression. Severe and prolonged feelings of stress can lead students to experience symptoms of depression. It is important for individuals to keep balance in their life. A balance of work, school, extra-curricular activities and social time is very important to maintain, so as to avoid feelings of being overwhelmed. ______________ »I have been having repeated occurrences of dizziness, pounding heart, extreme terror and trembling. What is going on? You could be experiencing a panic disorder, which manifests with sudden and repeated symptoms including chest pains, lightheadedness, nausea or stomach problems, chills, sweating, shortness of breath or a feeling of smothering or choking, tingling or numbness, shaking, feelings of unrealith, being out of control, and/or a fear of dying. Panic disorder strikes at least 1.6 percent of the population and it is twice as common in women as in men. Although panic disorder can appear at any age – children or in the elderly – it most often begins in early adulthood. Not everyone who experiences panic attacks will develop panic disorder – for example, many people have one attack but never have another. For those who do have panic disorder it’s important to seek treatment from a mental health professional. Untreated, the disorder can become very disabling. ______________ »A friend of mine was the victim of an attempted date rape after a party last year. We are roommates now and I notice she is not eating and although she sleeps, she wakes up at night shaking and screaming. Why is this happening? Your friend may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. Almost four percent of American adults experience PTSD over the course of a year. People with PTSD often re-experience the traumatic event in the form of flashbacks, memories, nightmares or frightening thoughts, particularly when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma. Persons with PTSD may also experience emotional numbness, dizziness, immune system problems, chest pain, depression, anxiety and irritability or outbursts of anger. It is important that persons with PTSD understand that this is a real and common reaction to trauma. Help is available through your doctor, a mental health professional and/or the student health center or counseling service. ______________ »I want to help out with mental issues like the ones you discuss on your site. How can I help? Get involved with mpower! You can go here to sign up, or send mpower to a friend. Beyond that, there are many other things you can do to support the mpower and the cause. Put a banner on your website, sign on your band, or go here for more ideas. ____________________________ April 2005 - mpoweryouth.org