Disability Services

 Anxiety affects how we feel, behave and can have physical symptoms.  It can feel like fear, but oftentimes the cause of the anxiety is unknown.  Severe anxiety can be debilitating.  Symptoms of anxiety include: ◦ Tense muscles, trembling, churning stomach, nausea, numbness in the body, headache, backache, heart palpitations and sweating/flushing

 Anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes with life in the absence of a real threat or after danger has passed.  Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million (18%) American adults age 18 years and older in a given year. ◦ Women are 60% more likely than men to experience an anxiety disorder over their lifetime. ◦ A large, national survey of adolescent mental health reported that about 8 percent of teens ages 13–18 have an anxiety disorder (National Institute of Mental Health).

 Depression interferes with daily life and causes pain and feelings of sadness. ◦ The duration and depth of despondency as well as presenting symptoms distinguishes depression from general unhappiness.  Severe depression can be life threatening and lead to thoughts of suicide.  Symptoms of depression: loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed, fatigue, tearfulness, difficulty concentrating, change in sleep patterns, decreased appetite, feeling worthless, guilty, hopeless and having thoughts of suicide.

 Each year about 6.7% of U.S adults experience major depressive disorder. Women are 70 % more likely than men to experience depression during their lifetime.  Additionally, 3.3% of 13 to 18 year olds have experienced a seriously debilitating depressive disorder (NIMH).

 Suicide is the third leading cause of death among persons aged years and the second among persons aged years. ◦ Each year in the U.S. approximately 5,000 individuals between the ages of take their life.  An estimated 8.3 million adults (3.7% of the adult U.S. population) reported having suicidal thoughts in the past year (Centers for Disease Control).  When there is a threat or real possibility of suicide, it is vital to stay close to the individual until professional help is obtained.

 Warning signs of suicide: ◦ Talking about or thinking about death ◦ Visiting or calling people to say goodbye ◦ Some individuals who are depressed ◦ People who mention “life isn’t worth living” ◦ Anyone who has a history of attempted suicide ◦ Increased alcohol and drug use ◦ Preparations for death (giving away belongings or acquiring a gun) ◦ Sudden, unexpected switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be happy

 Anorexia: People with anorexia see themselves as overweight, even when they are underweight. ◦ Eating, food, and weight control become obsessions. People with anorexia typically weigh themselves repeatedly, portion food carefully, and eat very small quantities of foods. ◦ Prevalence: percent (wide variation)  Bulimia: People with bulimia have recurrent and frequent episodes of eating large amounts of food and feel a lack of control over these episodes. ◦ This binge eating is followed by behavior that compensates for the overeating such as vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of the aforementioned. ◦ Prevalence: percent (wide variation)

 Alcohol and other substance use is the leading cause of death in college students, followed by suicide. ◦ 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).

 UTPA Counseling and Psychological Services: ◦ University Center 109 ◦ (956) /  UTPA Disability Services: ◦ University Center 108 ◦ (956) /  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline TALK (8255) (English and Spanish)  Tropical Texas Behavioral Health Crisis Line