Where's your head at?

In 1690, philosopher John Locke wrote that there is some degree of madness in almost everyone. In 1981, Stephen King wrote that everyone is "mentally ill."\nThese men were not suggesting that everybody belongs in a psych ward, just that nobody is perfect. We all have our faults, twitches and insecurities. Sometimes we are aware of these conditions but do not realize the magnitude in which they affect us. Even more often, we are unaware of these conditions altogether. \nAlthough college is meant to be the time of our lives, it can also be a constant struggle. It is important for a human being to have some type of emotional outlet. An artist can sketch a drawing and hang it on the wall, an athlete can jog and achieve the "runner's high," or a musician can compose a song and have a hit video on "TRL."\nCrazy sells, too. Remember Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love"? What about KC & JoJo's "Crazy," the song that thousands of teenagers lost their virginities to on prom night? Britney Spears had a song called "(You Drive Me) Crazy." It later turned into a movie about how Melissa Joan Hart drove Adrian Grenier crazy. Or was it the other way around? \nThe point is, if you don't have an outlet, your problems could bottle up until they explode. And a "TRL" hit isn't always worth it.\nLuckily for IU students, there is Counseling and Psychological Services. Located on the fourth floor of the Health Center, CAPS has programs on everything from alcohol abuse to test anxiety. Its staff consists of psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers, and its services are available to all IU students. Any student taking three or more on-campus credit hours and who paid a health fee is entitled to two free counseling sessions per semester. \nAccording to CAPS director Nancy J. Stockton, 6 percent to 7 percent of IU students attend counseling, while more than 50 percent are part of an outreach program. College students, like everyone else, are prone to anxiety and depression.\nBut don't think you can't be helped. Stockton concluded that the success of therapy is often determined by the individual's "readiness for change" and that it is common that a student can be suffering from a serious problem without even knowing it. Perhaps this is why the CAPS program conducts four screenings based on anxiety disorder, alcohol awareness, body image and eating disorders, and depression. The results are frequently surprising. With improvements in modern medicine, Stockton says more young people who suffer from serious mental diseases are now able to attend college. So if you're ever feeling overwhelmingly anxious, glum or have an addiction issue, CAPS could be the answer. To reach the CAPS program, you can visit the Web site at www.healthcenter.indiana.edu/caps or call its offices at 855-5711.\nAfter all, if therapy can help Tony Soprano, maybe it can help you, too.