Glencoe Health

Introduction:
In this lesson, you learned about a variety of mental disorders, including anxiety disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has developed a booklet on anxiety disorders that discusses the definitions, symptoms, and treatment of several specific disorders. Visit the NIMH website to read what the booklet has to say about social phobia, a specific anxiety disorder involving a strong and irrational fear of social situations.

Links to Explore:
Anxiety Disorders
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/anxiety.cfm

Directions:

• Click on the NIMH link and read the booklet’s introduction.
• Scroll down to the section labeled “Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)” and read the section on this type of phobia.
• Scroll down to the section labeled “Treatment of Anxiety Disorders.” Read this section and the following section, “How to Get Help for Anxiety Disorders.”
• Finally answer the following questions:

1			What distinguishes anxiety disorders from ordinary anxiety?
2			Identify three symptoms that people with social phobia tend to experience in social situations.
3			Can drugs cure anxiety disorders?
4			Describe are the two main aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
5			How can CBT be used to treat social phobia?
6			What is the first thing you should do if you suspect you have an anxiety disorder such as social phobia?