GAD + OCD

handout
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
Excessive anxiety and worry Key Symptoms:
about a number of events or 1. Restlessness or feeling
activities (more days than not for keyed up or on edge
the past six months) that cause 2. Being easily fatigued
clinically significant distress or 3. Difficulty
impairment in social, concentrating or mind
occupational, or other important going blank
4. Irritability
areas of functioning. 5. Muscle tension
6. Sleep disturbance

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Obsessions: Recurrent and persistent

1.2%
of people in
thoughts, urges, or images that are
experienced as intrusive and unwanted,
and that in most individuals cause marked
the United anxiety or distress.
States are Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or
diagnosed mental acts that the individual feels driven
with OCD to perform in response to an obsession or
according to rules that must be applied
rigidly.

EXAMPLES OF TIER 1
INTERVENTIONS IN SCHOOLS
Classroom-Based Mindfulness: Classroom
lesson to teach mindfulness techniques.

On the Same Breath Initiative: Teaches

students 4 breaths in 40 days. Carving out
daily time for breathwork.

Family Wellness Night: Bringing families in for

an event focused on Wellness for students
and adults.
COMMON ACCOMMODATIONS
GAD
Additional test time
Clear schedules and plans
Give specified question-answering times
Give notice of changes whenever possible and
allow room for processing

OCD
Administering tests orally or on computers
Access to teaching materials outside of class
Provide students with separate supplies
Create bathroom schedule
504 plans might come with specific
accommodations

RESOURCES
Digital Handouts with Information on
Anxiety: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/get-
involved/digital-shareables/shareable-
resources-on-anxiety-disorders

Resources on OCD:
https://iocdf.org/ocd-finding-help/other-
resources/