Lesson Description
Students will use information from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America Web site to learn about the different anxiety disorders that people can suffer. Students will read about the characteristics of anxiety disorders, their causes, and their treatments. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by writing a paragraph describing how they could use this information to help someone who suffers from anxiety disorders.

Instructional Objectives
1. Students will be able to characterize several anxiety disorders and discuss their treatments.
2. Students will be able to use this knowledge to write a paragraph describing how they could use the information they have learned to help someone with an anxiety disorder.

Student Web Activity Answers
1. Phobias, which occur when people have unreasonable and uncontrollable fears, are divided into three categories. If individuals' fears are focused on one thing or situation—such as water or flying—then they have a specific phobia. Social phobia results when people have extreme anxiety about how others will judge them. These people tend to think that everyone is looking at them, and they are overly concerned about being embarrassed in front of others. Sometimes a person will experience a social phobia about just one situation (such as public speaking), and yet feel comfortable in all other social settings. Agoraphobia, which frequently occurs in combination with panic attacks, is described as a fear of being in public places from which the individual cannot easily escape. A person suffering agoraphobia, for example, would probably not ride the subway. Sometimes the disorder is so severe that people will not even leave their homes.
2. People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from persistent worry about events that are unlikely to occur. In children, GAD may lead to perfectionism, restlessness, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sleep disturbances.
3. During a panic attack, the body enacts a response to a life-threatening event. The problem is that the nervous system sent the command at an inappropriate time, during a nonthreatening moment. People with the disorder have physiological symptoms that mimic those of heart attacks, giving some the feeling that they are dying or losing their minds. Certain illnesses, substances, objects, or social situations can trigger panic attacks. Many times, the disorder is addressed as a physiological problem before it is correctly diagnosed as an anxiety disorder.
4. Many anxiety disorders have biological components, and medication can be effective in eliminating or controlling their symptoms. Some doctors and therapists prefer to combine medication and psychological therapy in their treatment plans. Psychologists use cognitive-behavioral therapy to teach patients skills that help them change behaviors and cope with their feelings. Relaxation techniques can also help reduce stresses that contribute to anxiety.
5. Students' paragraphs will vary. Students should use information from the Web site and their textbooks to list and describe possible ways of helping someone with an anxiety disorder.

Student Web Activity