STORY at a glance • LEXILE LEVEL 1100L

Your Mental Health:

Living With
Anxiety
S U M M A RY: One in three teens has
an anxiety disorder. Three students
speak out about what it’s like to live
with anxiety and how they cope.
E S S E NTI A L QU E STI O N: How can
I find healthy ways to cope with
anxiety?
O B J EC TI V E S: Describe anxiety C A S E L CO M PE TE N C Y:
and the symptoms of an anxiety Social awareness
disorder; explain the benefits of
discussing mental health concerns; K E Y VO C A B:
identify coping strategies reassurance, pivotal, paranoia,
stigma, surmountable
N H E S 7: Demonstrate healthy
practices and behaviors to
maintain or improve the health of
self and others

CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

1 What happened to Sonya when she had her first

anxiety attack?
Sonia’s face got hot and her body felt paralyzed. She felt
like the walls were closing in on her.
1 Of the five self-care strategies mentioned on pg. 11 of
the article, which one would most likely work for you,
and why?
Answers will vary.

2 What does Abbie do to treat her anxiety now?

Abbie takes medication every morning and uses
different strategies, like doing a body scan.
2 Should schools teach students to practice self-care?
Possible answer: Yes, developing self-care habits
might help students deal with the stress of school.

3 How does photography help Michael manage his

anxiety?
When Michael focuses on taking pictures, it takes up so
much of his attention that there’s no room for anxiety.
3 Why do you think some people might be more open
to discussing their physical health rather than sharing
concerns about their mental health?
Answers will vary.

4 What are some of the things that give you anxiety?

Describe a time when you were anxious about
something, and explain how you handled the situation.
Answers will vary.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
EXTENSION ACTIVITY ADVOCACY IN ACTION
NHES 7 NHES 2
CASEL Competency: CASEL Competency:
Self-awareness Social awareness

Writing in a journal every day helps Sonia keep
anxiety in check. Using the prompts on our DAILY
CHECK-IN sheet, students will take time every day for
two weeks to reflect on their moods, achievements,
and stressors.
To fight against the stigma surrounding mental
health, Jonas Kolker spoke out about his anxiety
in a TEDx video. Have the class watch it and then
design an advocacy campaign, LET’S TALK ABOUT IT,
that encourages others to share their mental health
experiences.

T4 FEBRUARY 2020