7 Problems and Solutions to Helping a Friend with Anxiety

What they might not be able to ask for but wish you knew. Most of us who know or love someone who is anxious intend to be supportive, even helpful, in our interactions. We know to listen and not judge. To be patient when it’s hard to talk about issues. We even know to keep our own feelings in check so we don’t rev up an already tense situation. That said, this is OUR experience of loving them. What it’s like to be the person experiencing the anxiety is something very different. It isn’t always easy to know their loved ones are walking on eggshells or biting their tongues to prevent things from going from bad to worse. Feelings like this can be very hard to manage because they inspire a mix of gratitude and shame at the same time. It’s hard enough to be anxious, but worrying about its impact can escalate anxiety, thanks to secondary anxiety. It can feel good to be cared about, but it can also be shameful to think about the impact of their anxiety on others, or even articulate what they really need. How does someone tell you that the love you’re offering is good, but not GREAT? That there are things you could do that would be better than what you’re doing now? That’s pretty hard to say. Sometimes, it’s downright impossible. For a second, just imagine if your anxious friend could freely speak their mind…say the true words in their heart to help you see the very BEST way to support them. If you were a mind-reader, you might hear these 7 truths from your a...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Disorders Friends Publishers YourTango Abandonment Calming confused Distraction Dr. Alicia H. Clark Expectations Fear Feelings Humor Judgment listen Love overwhelmed positive pressure Questions s Source Type: blogs