Exceptionali

ty Name

Anxiety

Definition
& AB
Education
Code
Anxiety
disorders are
characterize
d by an
excessive
and often
persistent
sense of
dread along
with physical
symptoms,
such as
sweating,
heart
palpitations,
stomach
aches and
feelings of
stress. The
incident
rate is 6.4%
of all
students
across
Canada.
Anxiety
disorders
can have
biological
and
environment
al causes.
They are
usually
treated with

Characteristics
&/or Observable
Behaviors

Teaching Strategies
& Resources

Teachers
should meet
with the student
and parents
early in the
school year to
discuss how the
school can
support this
student's needs:
this includes
learning about
the student's
strengths,
interests and
areas of needs,
specifying
triggers that
may affect the
student, asking
about
medication sideeffects, asking
about other
associated
disorders that
need to be
addressed and
finding out about
successful
strategies that
are used at
home that could
also be used at
school.

Persisten
t worry and
negative
thoughts
Sweaty
palms, upset
stomach,
racing
heartbeat, fear
Often
students with
learning
disabilities and
emotional
disorders will
experience
anxiety
Highly
anxious
students will
have trouble
focusing as
their attention
will be
preoccupied
with negative
thoughts. As a
result, these
students will
have trouble
learning new
material if it
relies heavily

Links &/or
Sources

How difficult can

it be? (video)
http://odigital.films.com
.darius.uleth.ca/
PortalPlaylists.as
px?
aid=37192&xtid
=41096
What is a
learning
disability?
(online)
http://www.ldonli
ne.org/ldbasics/
whatisld

http://www.cmh
a.ca/mentalhealth/understa
nding-mentalillness/anxietydisorders/
(summarizes
different types
of anxiety
disorders)

http://education
.alberta.ca/medi
a/6446756/07-