Turtles All the Way Down

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. How does mental illness affect different people? What are some types of mental illness and anxieties people face? What do you know about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in particular? How might this affect a person’s life?

Teaching Suggestion: The topic of mental illness can be sensitive for anyone who has experienced mental illness firsthand or watched someone close to them face it. Aza lives with OCD and severe anxiety, and it will be important to approach the topic of mental illness with compassion. Studying these resources could increase understanding of OCD and anxiety. The International OCD Foundation Website has multiple pages, which could turn into a longer research opportunity.

• This resource from the National Institute of Mental Health explains the symptoms and causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder and reviews some common treatments.
• “Anxiety Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatments” from the Cleveland Clinic provides background on anxiety.
• The International OCD Foundation Website offers numerous resources about OCD. This page includes a brief video and written overview that explain some of the different types of obsessions someone with OCD might experience.