Anxiety is a challenging condition to deal with. It’s normal for most people to experience some anxiety throughout their week. When juggling many different responsibilities, it can feel like a never-ending list that you feel as if you can’t complete. Anxiety can be healthy in moderation. It helps motivate us, keeps us moving forward, and develops solutions to our problems. However, at some point, too much anxiety becomes unhelpful and damaging to our mental health.
When you know someone has anxiety, you want to be able to help them through it. To make them feel as if the world isn’t resting on their shoulders at all times. To ease the burden they feel during all waking hours. Here are 5 ways to help someone with anxiety.
5 Ways To Help Someone With Anxiety
1. Don’t Invalidate Their Feelings
Chronic anxiety is tricky because often, the worries aren’t about specific things. Anxiety causes someone to worry about everything. It’s hard to understand when someone’s fears and worries seem irrational or without basis. However, you should never invalidate or downplay what they are feeling. People with anxiety should never be made to feel they are overreacting. Listen to them and make sure they know their feelings are valid. You might not understand it, but what they are feeling is real.
2. Know The Signs
Once you know the signs of anxiety, it can be easier to help someone deal with them. For instance, you might notice that they seem as if they are sweating more or acting more restless. You may notice that they are zoning out more, or they may complain about not sleeping well more frequently. You might not be able to wave a magic wand when you see these signs, but you can let your loved one see that you recognize that their mental state isn’t strong at that moment.
3. Help Them Find Ways To Relax
There are plenty of ways that you can find to help them relax or distract them. One of the best ways that can benefit both of you is to go for a walk. Physical activity helps to release feel-good endorphins in the body, which increases feelings of happiness and relaxation. Walking is also a great opportunity for them to talk about what they are going through. It helps them release the thoughts, worries, and external aspects of what they feel anxious about.
4. Learn Grounding Techniques Together
This is another dual-benefit tip. You can learn grounding techniques to help ease anxiety symptoms at the moment. This will not only help them to feel calmer but will help you during times when your own anxiety is running rampant. Great grounding techniques for anxiety can include breathing exercises, which use specific breathing patterns to calm your nervous system down. Alternatively, meditation or a yoga class can help someone feel calmer and more relaxed.
5. Suggest Counseling
In the last few years, more people have realized the importance of therapy for mental health. While it can still feel too taboo to talk about, it is becoming more normalized. As much as you want to help your friend or loved one with their anxiety, we can only do so much as individuals. While we all experience anxiety, sometimes the best solution for help is through a licensed professional.
As a trained therapist specializing in helping people with anxiety, I know how debilitating this condition can feel. Anxiety therapy can give you or your loved one the tools they need to make life feel less burdensome. I encourage you or them to reach out soon about anxiety therapy to learn how to control anxiety and not let it control you.
