If you have somebody in your life that is facing challenges with anxiety, you could find yourself overwhelmed as you determine the best support. At times, it may seem like nothing you’re doing is working to help ease their symptoms. Other times, it may cause you to compromise your own wellbeing in order to assist them.
The good news: there are tools you can learn and utilize to best support people with anxiety disorders.
Validate & listen to them
Assure them that it’s okay for them to feel the way they are feeling. Meet them with a calm demeanor and try not to dispel their anxiety with ration or logic at this time. It’s best to listen to what their experience is like without any judgment.
Understand their triggers/fears
Perhaps the individual gets anxiety in large crowds, before a big test, or while traveling. When you’re supporting people with anxiety disorders, it can help to ask the individual about their experience with anxiety. What makes it worse? Be mindful of these triggers/fears moving forward.
Support them
If you begin to notice the individual’s anxiety is really interfering with their day-to-day life, it may benefit them to get professional help from their general practitioner or a therapist. Gently suggest they may want support from a professional. If they seem open to the idea, then ask how you can best support them in getting this help. Maybe it’s making a call for them to book the appointment.
Have patience with the process
It’s important to be realistic here. People don’t change overnight. So don’t expect the individual with anxiety to learn how to manage it quickly.
Mental health challenges are often a journey. And don’t take your supportive actions as failures. They may greatly be impacting the individual more than you even realize in the moment. Sometimes it takes time to even see the wins from our efforts.
Take care of yourself
You cannot pour from an empty cup! This may be a cliche statement, but it’s true — especially when you’re supporting people with anxiety disorders. Make sure you’re taking care of your own mental health so you can be in the best place to help the individual in your life that is needing your support.
Gather up tools
And, finally, we will leave you with a little cheat sheet of just a few things to say — and not to say — to somebody with anxiety.
Things to say:
- How can I best support you?
- I noticed you have been anxious and I’m worried
- If you want to talk about it, I’m here for you
What not to say:
- Don’t worry about it
- You’re just an anxious person
- I get anxiety sometimes, too
If you or someone you care about is facing challenges with anxiety, please consider therapy. It’s a very effective way to help you manage symptoms of anxiety.
Contact us today to discuss starting treatment with one of our therapists.
