National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day

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Registered: 03-11-2004
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
1
Wed, 05-03-2006 - 9:16am
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day

From Cathleen Henning,Your Guide to Panic / Anxiety Disorders.


Wednesday, May 3, 2006

National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day is Wednesday, May 3, 2006. At numerous locations throughout the United States and Canada, you may receive a free and anonymous screening for anxiety and depressive disorders. After the screening, you may talk privately to a qualified mental health professional, and you will receive a referral for further examination and treatment, if necessary.

"Anxiety disorders bring tremendous suffering and pain to millions of Americans each year," said Mary Guardino, Executive Director and Founder of Freedom From Fear, in a press release. "That’s the sad news; the good news is these illnesses can quickly and effectively be treated. Participating in the screening day on May 3, 2006, is the first step in finding help."
Finding a Location Near YouTo find a screening location near you, call 1-888-442-2022 or visit Freedom from Fear's Referral Network online. The telephone call is toll-free. The call is automated; you will not need to talk to someone unless you do not have a touch tone telephone. You will be given brief information about the Screening Day, then you will be asked to input your zip code via your touch tone telephone. After that, the names, cities, and phone numbers of screening locations will be listed. You may then call these locations for further information. If you do not have a touch tone telephone or if there are no screening locations near you, another phone number is provided for you to speak to someone.


Who Should Attend the Screening Day?If you think you may be having symptoms of anxiety and/or depression and would like to consult a mental health professional about your concerns, the Screening Day is for you. If you already know you have an anxiety disorder but you are not receiving treatment (or you are unhappy with your treatment), the Screening Day is a good place to find referrals for treatment in your area.

"Many people don’t realize that there are several kinds of anxiety disorders," said Guardino. "We hope that events such as National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day will help increase the number of people who seek help and get treatment for their illnesses."

Anxiety disorders and depression are treatable conditions. The sooner you find treatment, the more quickly you will be able to ease your symptoms. If you are having any of the following symptoms, you might consider attending the Screening Day:

  • You worry constantly and have difficulty controlling it.
  • You have difficulty sleeping.
  • You have physical symptoms such as fast heartrate, chills and/or sweating, nausea, headaches, shakiness, and breathing difficulties.
  • You have difficulty concentrating.
  • You have anxiety or panic attacks.
  • You have intense anxiety in social situations.
  • You have phobias.
  • You have obsessive thoughts or perform repetitive rituals.
  • You feel sad or hopeless.
You may have symptoms not listed here. Additionally, the symptoms listed here may be a sign of another problem. The Screening Day is a good place to start if you're not sure where to begin seeking help. If the Screening Day is not an option for you, you should talk to your family doctor or other health provider if you are having these symptoms.


What Will Happen at the Screening?At the screening, you will watch a video that will explain the different anxiety disorders to you. After the video, if you wish, you may fill out a screening questionnaire. To see what a screening is like, please visit Freedom from Fear's online Screening Room.

After you fill out the questionnaire, you may talk one-on-one to a mental health professional. Each screening site is directed by a licensed mental health professional. If the answers to your questionnaire indicate a need for further evaluation, you will be given a referral to a qualified health or mental health professional.

All screening sites will have information about anxiety disorders available, even if you do not wish to have a screening. By attending a screening site, you are not obligated to have a screening, so please consider stopping by to see how it feels.


About National Anxiety Disorders Screening DaySponsored by more than fifteen national mental health organizations, National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day began in 1994. Freedom from Fear, the Project's main coordinator, is a national not-for-profit mental health advocacy association founded in 1984 by Mary Guardino.




 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Wed, 05-03-2006 - 3:57pm

This is such a good tool for anyone who hasn't been diagnosed and wants an eval.

Sheri Ann