Question

Tabitha went to the movies with her friends. When they were sitting in the dark waiting for the movie to begin, Tabitha felt her heart start beating faster. She was suddenly afraid something terrible was going to happen to her. She ran out of the theater. Her friends teased her about it. Later that week when they went out for ice cream, Tabitha started feeling dizzy and sick to her stomach. She ran out of the ice cream shop. Now she is afraid of having another panic attack.

What are some of the ways that Tabitha's mental disorder affects her daily life?

Select all that apply.


Tabitha does not want to eat ice cream.

Tabitha does well in school.

Tabitha never knows when a panic attack will strike.

Tabitha is afraid to go out with her friends because she’s afraid of having another panic attack.

Answer 1

Answers: 1, 3, and 4.

- 1 (does not want to eat ice cream): She avoided the ice cream shop after an attack and is likely to avoid similar situations (avoidance behavior), even if it's the outing rather than the food itself.
- 3 (never knows when a panic attack will strike): Panic attacks are often sudden and unpredictable, which is described in the vignette.
- 4 (afraid to go out with her friends): The story says she’s now afraid of having another panic attack, which can lead to fear of social outings.

(2 is not supported by the information given.)