Topic 2

Topic 2: Anxiety Disorders
Introduction / Procedure / Reminders:

1. Lead the class in Activity: Mental Health Challenge
a. Preparation: Before the class starts, photocopy the content on specific Mental Health Challenges
and cut out the description of each of the mental health challenges (ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Bi-
Polar Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Schizophrenia) and
place each description in a separate envelope.
b. Divide the class by giving numbers to each student from 1 to 8. Have each student go to the
workstation that has his or her number. All students with number “one” go to one, etc.
c. Hand out one envelope containing one of the 8 mental health challenges to each group.
d. Instruct the groups to read the paragraph and put the name of their mental health challenge at the top
of their chart paper. Using the content in their paragraph, each group should create 4 - 5 bullets or
short sentences that describe the mental health challenge assigned to their group. Let the groups
know that their list should also include some positive aspect related to the challenge.
e. Give each group 2-3 minutes to present to the other groups what they have learned about their
group's mental health challenge.
f. As groups present, circle the bulleted content that has the positive statement so that it is more visible
and later when summarizing students can visually see what may be a positive commonality across
all challenges -- e.g. people can be helped... people still want friends, etc.
g. Tell the students that they might know someone who has experienced one of these challenges, but
remind them that this is not about telling someone else's story, but more about just understanding
what each term is about.
h. After the students report on the mental health challenges, ask them:
i. one thing they learned today about mental health challenges that they did not know before
this class began
ii. the similarities across the positive characteristics that are circled
iii. Reinforce the students’ minds that people facing mental health challenges are just like
everybody else in that they want to be a friend and have friends with help people with
mental health challenges can get better and live normal lives.
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is pretty common and can make it hard to focus and sit still. ADHD makes it hard to finish things, and
makes thoughts jump around. Kids who have ADHD can learn to control their thoughts and bodies by figuring out
what helps them focus, or by talking to a doctor or mental health professional. Some kids with ADHD do better in
school if they can do their work in a quiet room. Sometimes medicine can help too. Even though having ADHD
can make some things harder, people who have ADHD are just as smart as other people. They can still do well in
school and in life.
Anxiety (Panic Disorder)

Have you ever been really nervous? Maybe from a test, a speech, or a big game? When you’re nervous, your heart
starts pounding, you breathe fast, or your stomach might feel funny. Feeling anxious and nervous is common. But a
person diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder will have these feelings suddenly and often. These strong, sudden
feelings of stress or fear are called “panic attacks.” A panic attack can make your chest or stomach hurt, your heart
speed up, make you feel afraid, dizzy, or feel like you can’t breathe. Even kids can have panic attacks. People who
have panic attacks sometimes feel scared to go places because they are afraid of having an attack. Their daily life
can be scary, but they can get help, get better and be okay.
Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder changes the way the brain understands the world. People diagnosed with autism can
have a hard time talking about their feelings, understanding people’s actions, and being social. They can also be
very sensitive about being touched. To a person diagnosed with autism, being hugged can be scary and
uncomfortable. Kids who have autism are just as smart as other kids. They can be very good at things like math or
music. Just because some things are hard for kids with autism, they are not acting mean or weird. Their brains just
work in a different way. They still make friends and learn how to work and play with others.
Bi-Polar Disorder
Everybody has feelings that change. When something good happens, you feel happy. If something bad happens,
you feel sad. Bi-polar disorder changes the way people feel emotions. If people have bi-polar disorder, their
emotions can go from happy to sad very quickly. They can be very cheerful one moment, and very angry, sad and
tired the next moment. When people with bi-polar disorder experience intense feelings of happiness it is called
“mania.” They can’t think clearly or sleep well, and they might do things without thinking about them first. When
people with bi-polar disorder feel intense sadness and tiredness, it is called “depression.” Having bi-polar disorder
can be very tiring and stressful. Medication can help. Talking to a mental health professional, friends and family
can also help someone with bi-polar disorder learn how to manage feelings and live a healthy life.
Depression
Depression is a mental health challenge that makes people feel very sad all the time. It can change how you think,
feel, and act. It can even make your body feel sick too. A person diagnosed with depression can feel so sad that it
makes it hard to think clearly. Someone diagnosed with depression might feel very sad every day, or feel that
nobody loves them. They might not want to do things they used to think were fun. People diagnosed with
depression may not know why they feel so sad. Even if you have a good life, you can struggle with depression. It is
good to have family and close friends to talk to and help when things are bad, and talking to a mental health
professional about these strong feelings can help. Depression can be very hard, but people with depression can get
better too, and learn how to enjoy life.
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder exists when a person's thoughts and behaviors are focused too much on food and body weight.
The person may worry about being "too fat." The person may have a big fear of becoming obese. Yet, the person's
weight may be quite healthy. Three of the most common types of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and
extreme overeating.
 Anorexia refers to weight loss that occurs from not eating.
 Bulimia refers to eating large amounts of food over a short period of time followed by an attempt to get rid
of the food. This getting rid of food is called "purging."
 Extreme overeating is marked by eating, and eating, and eating and then having feelings of guilt and shame.
The important thing to remember is that having an eating disorder is about more than body weight and food.
Behind the problem we see is something bigger – a person's sense of self-esteem, relationships, feelings, and how
the person handles the stresses of life. A medical doctor, a mental health professional and a nutritionist are
important helpers for this type of problem.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Sometimes if you see or live through something very scary, you can keep feeling afraid even after the scary part is
over. It is normal to feel afraid sometimes, but people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) feel scared
even if they are safe and there is nothing to be afraid of. Kids with PTSD might have very bad dreams that seem
real, or think something bad is going to happen again. Even when they are safe, the feelings of fear are very real.
Talking to a mental health professional or friends and family can help. It takes time and hard work, but kids who
are diagnosed with PTSD can learn ways to handle their fears and can live healthy, happy lives.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia makes it hard for people to know what is real and what is not real. Schizophrenia can make the brain
think it sees or hears things that aren’t really there. A person diagnosed with schizophrenia can also start to think
that people are trying to control them or read their minds. Even though the things they see, hear, believe or feel
might not be true, their brains think they are real and true, and that can be very scary. Having schizophrenia does
not mean a person is violent or bad. Usually people do not get this illness until their late teens or early adulthood,
and there are ways to make their lives better, like therapy and medication. Source: Walk in our Shoes.
http://walkinourshoes.org/content/Classroom_Lesson_Plans.pdf)
Processing:
1. What did you learn today about mental health challenges that you did not know before this class began?
2. Look at the positive characteristics that are circled. Are there any similarities across the different
challenges?
3. People facing mental health challenges are just like everybody who wants to be a friend and have friends
with; helping people with mental health challenges can get better and live normal lives.

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Topic 2: Anxiety Disorders

Introduction / Procedure / Reminders:

MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Anxiety (Panic Disorder)

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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