Understanding Anxiety: Awareness and Coping Strategies

Ms. Alvarez

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Understanding Anxiety: Awareness and Coping Strategies

Identify and manage symptoms of anxiety

In this lesson, students will explore the causes and symptoms of anxiety and learn coping strategies. The session features interactive activities to help students identify and manage anxiety. This lesson is crucial in promoting mental health awareness and providing students with tools to handle anxiety effectively.

Audience

Tenth Grade Students

Time

1 hour

Approach

Identify and manage symptoms of anxiety

Materials

Video: About Anxiety Disorders, Video: So, You're Having an Anxiety Attack, Discussion Questions, and Worksheet

Step 1

Introduction

10 mins

Greeting & Attendance: Start with a greeting and take attendance.
Lesson Introduction: Introduce the topic of anxiety, explaining why it is important to understand it.
Learning Objectives: Briefly explain the objectives of the lesson - to identify symptoms of anxiety and learn coping strategies.

Step 2

Video and Discussion: About Anxiety Disorders

15 mins

Video: Play the About Anxiety Disorders video (2 mins 6 secs).
Discussion: Facilitate a discussion using the provided questions to ensure students understand the differences between normal stress and anxiety disorders.

Step 3

Interactive Activity: Identifying Anxiety

10 mins

Activity: Ask students to write down or draw how they feel when anxious.
Share & Discuss: Have a few volunteers share their experiences, facilitating a discussion on common symptoms of anxiety.

Step 4

Video: So, You're Having an Anxiety Attack

10 mins

Video: Play the So, You're Having an Anxiety Attack video (5 mins 23 secs).
Guided Practice: Lead students in practicing some of the techniques mentioned in the video, such as grounding exercises and slow breathing.

Step 5

Worksheet & Reflection

15 mins

Worksheet: Hand out the worksheet and allow students 10 minutes to complete it.
Review & Reflect: Review the answers with the class and discuss any questions or reflections students may have.

Step 6

Closure

5 mins

Recap: Summarize the key points of the lesson.
Q&A: Allow time for any final questions.
Encouragement: Encourage students to use the techniques learned and seek help if they feel overwhelmed.

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Discussion

Anxiety Disorders Discussion

A discussion focused on understanding the different types of anxiety disorders and their impact on daily life.

What is the difference between stress and anxiety?

Stress is a normal part of life, whereas anxiety disorders involve irrational, persistent fear that disrupts daily life.

Can you describe the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder?

GAD involves ongoing, excessive worry; Social Anxiety Disorder includes intense fear in social situations; Panic Disorder involves sudden, severe panic attacks.

How might anxiety disorders affect someone's daily life and relationships?

Can prevent individuals from carrying out activities, impact interactions with loved ones, and affect school/work performance.

Worksheet

Coping with Anxiety Worksheet

This worksheet allows students to reflect on their own experiences with anxiety and practice coping strategies discussed in the lesson.

Describe a time when you felt anxious. What were the physical and emotional symptoms you experienced?

Think about how your body and mind reacted to the anxiety.

Try one of the grounding exercises from the video. Describe the exercise and how it made you feel.

Follow one exercise, like naming three things you can touch, and then write about the experience.

List three coping strategies you learned today that you can use when feeling anxious.

Consider strategies like slow breathing, grounding exercises, or going to a safe place.