Drinking

• Do you drink because you have problems? To relax?
• Do you drink when you get mad at other people, your friends or parents?
• Do you prefer to drink alone rather than others?
• Are your grades starting to slip? Are you goofing off on your job?
• Did you ever try to stop drinking, or drink less, and fail?
• Have you begun to drink in the morning, before school or work?
• Do you gulp your drinks?
• Do you ever have loss of memory due to your drinking?
• Are you dishonest about how much you had to drink?
• Do you ever get into trouble when you’re drinking?
• Do you get drunk when you drink, Even when you don’t mean to?
• Do you think it’s cool to be able to hold your liquor?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, schedule an appointment with a counselor at 740.364.9578 or visit the Office of Student Life in Warner 226.

Some material on this page is excerpted from Alcoholics Anonymous.

Anxiety

Instructions: To discover the role anxiety plays in your life, complete the following anxiety self-assessment quiz. 

Thoughts and behaviors

Do you often…

• Find yourself thinking about bad things that might happen in the future? 
• Have a powerful, ongoing fear of social situations involving people you don’t know well? 
• Feel overwhelmed or “stressed out”? 
• Have unrealistically high expectations of yourself? 
• Feel unable to control your anxious feelings? 
• Generally feel worried. Have you felt this way for six months or more? 
• Worry about disappointing or not pleasing others? 
• Feel trapped in, or avoid social situations where it might be difficult to escape if you wanted to, such as in a crowd or on the highway? 
• Have an ongoing fear of a specific object or situation, such as spiders, flying, heights, etc. for no apparent reason? 
• Find it difficult to express undesirable emotions such as anger? 
• Fear going to unfamiliar places or talking to unfamiliar people alone? 
• Feel afraid or anxious because of a traumatic event in your past that involved actual or threatened harm to yourself or someone you loved (such as abuse, a serious accident, war)? 
• Avoid the things you’re afraid of? 
• Experience racing or disturbing thoughts that you’re unable to get out of your mind? 
• Have habits that you do repeatedly such as checking the clock, checking the door locks, or washing your hands, even though you know it’s not necessary?
•  Feel that you must be perfect? 
• Self-medicate by using sugar, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, or prescription or illegal drugs to help you feel less anxious? 
• Feel that anxiety interferes with your daily life? 
• Fear being out of control?
• Find yourself using words such as “can’t,” “should,” and “have to”? 
• Push yourself to do more, even when you’re physically and mentally exhausted?

Physical symptoms

Do you often…

• Feel short of breath or have difficulty taking deep breaths? 
• Feel fatigued? 
• Feel tense? 
• Feel that your heart is racing? 
• Experience repeated panic attacks that include intense fear and physical symptoms? 
• Have difficulty concentrating? Feel moody or irritable? Feel “spacey” or disconnected from your body? 
• Feel numbness or trembling? 
• Feel dizzy or lightheaded? 
• Experience uncomfortable physical symptoms when you think about or are in a situation that makes you feel anxious?
• Have you noticed…
• Recent changes in your sleep or eating patterns? 
• That you hide your symptoms from others?

If you responded “Yes” to four or more questions and have felt this way for more than a few weeks, you may suffer from an anxiety disorder. Schedule an appointment with a counselor at 740.364.9578 or visit the Office of Student Life in Warner 226.

Depression

Do you have any first-degree relatives (parent, sibling) with a history of depression?

1. No
2. Yes

Which of the following best describes your general mood?

1. I feel sad some of the time
2. I feel sad most of the time
3. I feel sad all of the time

Which of the following best describes your feeling about the future?

1. I am sometimes discouraged about the future
2. I am very discouraged about the future
3. I feel that the future is hopeless

Which of the following best describes your feelings about your accomplishments?

1. I sometimes feel like a failure
2. I feel like a failure more often than not
3. I feel like a failure all of the time

Compared to the past, do you still enjoy activities and hobbies now?

1. I don’t seem to enjoy things as much as I did in the past
2. I rarely seem to enjoy things as much as I did in the past
3. I don’t enjoy things the way I used to

Do you feel that you are a useful and needed person?

1. I sometimes feel useless and not needed
2. I feel useless most of the time
3. I feel useless all of the time

Do you feel happy with yourself?

1. I sometimes dislike myself
2.  mostly dislike myself
3. I hate myself

Do you have unexplained crying spells?

1. Sometimes
2. Often
3. I cry all the time

Do you feel more irritable now than in the past?

1. I sometimes get irritated more easily than before
2. I get irritated more frequently now
3. I am irritated all the time

Have you noticed any weight loss?

1. Less than 5 lbs
2. 5-10 lbs
3. More than 10lbs

How would you describe your energy level?

1. I sometimes have difficulty concentrating
2. I frequently have difficulty concentrating
3. I’m too tired to do much of anything

How would you describe your ability to make decisions?

1. I have some trouble making decisions
2. I frequently have trouble making decisions
3. I always have trouble making decisions

Do you ever have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide?

1. I sometimes have thoughts but would not act on them
2. I feel I’d be better off dead
3. I have a plan to commit suicide

If your answers to most questions are 2s and 3s, you are most likely experiencing some depression. It would be helpful to visit a counselor in the Office of Student Life (Warner Center 226). Call to schedule an appointment at 740.364.9578, or call your family physician and discuss this self-assessment.

Disordered Eating

Do I have a problem with my body?

How many of the following do you agree with?

• I rarely talk negatively about my body.
• I do not weigh myself more than once a week.
• If appearance did not matter in our society, I would still exercise the same amount I do now.
• I rarely compare my looks or body to others.
• I rarely feel guilty or anxious after eating high-fat food.
• I can accept a compliment about my appearance.
• If I had to do things that were unhealthy (fasting, taking laxatives, throwing up) in order to change my weight, I would choose not to do those things.
• I feel happy or content, for the most part, with my life at this time.
• I wouldn’t panic if I gained a few pounds.
• I am satisfied with my current body shape and size.

# True

8-10: You seem satisfied with your body. Be a role model for others.

4-7: You may be a little too self-critical. Get more information by setting an appointment with a counselor 740-364-9578, Warner Center 226.

0-3: We encourage you to work toward a more positive body image. Arrange for an appointment with the a counselor, 740-364-9578, Warner Center 226.

Do I have a problem with food?

• I am truthful about what I eat.
• I feel in control of myself if I restrict the amount of calories, food and/or fat I eat.
• I spend a lot of time worrying about food and fat.
• I often feel anxious or guilty after I eat food that is high in fat.
• I go on eating binges and don’t stop eating until I feel sick.
• I would rather die than be fat.
• I feel fat even though people tell me that I’m thin.
• I believe that being in control of my food shows others that I am in control of my life.
• I have a secret stash of food.
• If I eat something “bad,” I compensate by trying to exercise the calories away.
• I have taken laxatives or forced myself to vomit after eating.
• I won’t admit it to anyone, but sometimes I think that my eating or exercising is not normal.

# True

1-3: You have some preoccupation with food and eating. Get more information about healthy eating and weight change. The Personal Mental Health Counselor’s office, 740-366-9464, in WC 226 is a good place to start.

4-6: There is reason for concern. Check with your Personal Mental Health Counselor at 740-366-9464 or visit her in WC 226 and share your situation. Recommendations will be given.

Over 6: You are greatly jeopardizing your physical and/or psychological health. Qualified, compassionate help is available. Call your Personal Mental Health Counselor at 740-366-9464, WC 226 as soon as possible. For a medical evaluation, contact your family doctor or Health Care Center.