Introduction

Welcome everyone

University students experience a lot of stress. There[Contact us at Center for Health Sciences and Counseling]

are many students who are trying to manage on their○Mon. – Fri. 9:00-17:00

own but reach a point where they no longer know what

○http://www.chc.kyusyu-u.ac.jp/

to do and wonder if they have any mental disorder.

Center for Health Sciences and Counseling(2nd floor, Big Sand) 092-802-5881

Under such a circumstance, the campus life and healthsupport center offer consultations with physicians andcounsellors and make referrals for mental healthconsultations.
H o w e v e r, s o m e s t u d e n t s m a y h e s i t a t e s u c hconsultations because they are nervous about thepossible questions they would be asked, or because
they do not know how to explain their problems.
Therefore, we have summarized some common
mental and physical issues that students experience. If
you find anything that fits what you or your friends areexperiencing, please contact the campus life andhealth support center. You may not be experiencing
any of these conditions today, but it would be good toknow. Please take your time and read this pamphlet.

Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,
Center Zone, Ito Campus
Ito Center Zone (1st floor, Center Zone 1) 092-802-5859
Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,
Ito Campus West Zone
Ito West Zone (3 rd floor, West Zone 3) 092-802-3297

SelfcareFor students

Mental and physical health 6Anxiety disorderand panic disorder

Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,
Hospital Campus(1st floor, Building of Administrative
Offices of Research and Education) 092-642-6889
Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,
Chikushi Campus(old health science center) 092-583-7685
Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,Ohashi Campus(2nd floor, Design Commons) 092-553-4581

Selfcare series for students[Student life][Mental and physical health]

1. Student counseling Q & A

1. Sleep disorder

2. How to make small talk

2. Headache

3. How to take tests andmake presentations

3. Anemia

4. How to not procrastinate
5. How to get over failures
6. How to deal with parents
during adolescent year

4. Intestinal issues
5. Adjustment disorder
6. Anxiety disorder andpanic disorder

7. How to control anger

7. Cause ofdepression

8. Transfer students

8. Symptoms of depression

9. How to manage yourschedule

9. Autonomic nerves andautogenic training

This pamphlet summarizes the information necessary for you

10. Friendship at the university

10.Relaxationencounter. Please refer to this pamphlet as needed.

11. Quit the university?

11. Health issues associatedwith smoking

12. For students that plan
to study abroad

12. Infectious diseases

Source: Center for Health Sciences and Counseling, Kyushu University.
Illustration by Chiyo Inoue※Copyright Center for Health Sciences and Counseling, Kyushu University.

to manage the mental and physic al problems you may

Kyushu University
Center for Health Sciences and CounselingAnxiety disorderand panic disorderreason, especially anxiety attack that occurs suddenly for noreason and leads to fear of death (panic attack), it is called
pathological anxiety.

2. Mental disorder with anxiety
as the chief complaint
Panic disorder or panic attack
This is where one suddenly experiences the anxiety discussed

What are anxiety disorder and panic disorder? Anxiety disorder② Restlessness

earlier and usually there are physical symptoms. It worsens tois a mental disorder with anxiety being the chief complaint. It isIf worry or anxiety becomes too intense, one cannot calm down

restlessness, but some people can avoid this once they haveclassified into a sudden onset of anxiety and chronic anxiety.

and stay still. If one is overcome with worry, the brain function

become accustomed. Usually, these attacks only last several

becomes affected and focus or the sense of reality becomesminutes, but it could have an unpredictable onset. These

impaired. Actually, focus and judgment become dull, and some

symptoms tend to recur. Since the cause is unknown, onset ofpeople become dazed. If one becomes so anxious and feels

the symptoms is difficult to predict, and drugs can be used for

lost, they feel hopeless that they cannot control their mind orprevention.

1. Symptoms of anxiety
There are following three symptoms of anxiety disorder.

behavior. If one becomes distressed that they might not beAnxiety

able to control themselves, they become fearful that they would

Agoraphobia

One becomes aware of unpleasant emotions accompanied

go insane. Some may become deranged and scream (excited

If a panic attack begins, one may fear unpredictable onset ofwith vague worry and sinister premonition that something badstate or confused state), involving people around them, andattack, especially in settings where they cannot ask for help,

might happen and cannot feel calm.

could be transported to a hospital in an ambulance.

and starts to avoid public places, crowds, traveling alone, orRestlessness③ Physical symptoms

If anxiety is intense, one feels anguish in the chest (precordial

When feeling intense anxiety, physical conditions are adjustedanxiety) and agitated. Judgement may become impaired, andthrough autonomic nerves. Symptoms include tachycardia andGeneralized anxiety disorder

one may feel confused, dazed, excited, or even deranged.

palpitations (heart beats very hard), sense of being suffocatedThis is a long-term worry and anxiety over various aspects,

or hyperventilation, discomfort or tightness in the chest,

incidents, and one’s own actions. There are nervousness,

Physical symptoms

sweating (cold sweat), and dry mouth. There are also

irritation, lack of focus, and fatigue, which are accompanied by

There are diverse autonomic symptoms such as violent heart

symptoms such as lightness in the head, dizziness, tense or

mild physical symptoms. Everything is worrisome, and one

beats (palpitation), tight sensation from the chest to the neckstiff muscles, shaking, tension headache, and nausea, whichfeels tense both physically and mentally.

(tightness in the chest), sweating, and dilated pupils.

worsen anxiety. When such rapid changes occur in the body,going outside. If the fear is too intense, one cannot leave thehouse and becomes withdrawn.

one fears that they may be dying.
If the above symptoms keep occurring, or fear of the above
symptoms interferes with daily life, you need treatment.

Anxiety itself is a normal emotion felt when one is at the life’s*Phobia: There is a specific object that one fears (e.g., fear ofcrossroad, and is unsure of the future. Since young people withheight).

limited experience face a major challenge about deciding theirfuture, those who tend to worry, or are emotional, will obviously① Anxiety (awareness of anxiety)feel anxious.

Unknown station in life

Present
PastFuture

Anxiety is a normal emotion when experiencing something
new. Anyone can feel anxious if they cannot predict the future,

However, with anxiety disorder, the level of anxiety is severe,or if the outlook is grim (anticipatory anxiety). This is anxiety

and it could interfere with daily life. If one experiences anxiety

with a reason, meaning, a normal anxiety.

attack once, they become fearful of another unbearable attack.
In other words, unless treated in an early stage, it could

If anxiety is too severe even with a reason, or if there is nobecome chronic and difficult to cure.

Atsushi ICHIMIYA, June 2016