If a loved one struggles with anxiety, you might feel powerless to make him or her feel better. Knowing how to help someone with anxiety may seem difficult at first. However, a few things might be helpful the next time that an anxiety issue arises.
Educate Yourself as Much as Possible
The saying “knowledge is power” is true, especially when it comes to anxiety. Thankfully, you live in an era of technology that puts knowledge at your fingertips. Utilize online resources to study anxiety. Understanding it takes a bit of time but is achievable.
Exercise Is a Big Part of How to Help Someone With Anxiety
Along with easing depression, exercise is helpful for dealing with anxiety. When you exercise, your brain naturally releases endorphins, “feel good” chemicals that trigger a reward response. With anxiety, exercise or any type of physical activity can swing the brain in a positive direction.
Don’t Let Anxious Loved Ones Avoid Something Because of Anxiety
One of the most common ways that people deal with anxiety is to avoid it. Unfortunately, many of the events that they avoid are things that they can’t avoid forever. When they do, their anxious feelings snowball. Then, their anxiety is even worse when those events come up again.
Sometimes, people avoid little things that can lead to real anxiety in the future. For example, some of them put off simple phones calls, causing larger issues down the road. Others avoid big projects that seem intimidating. However, the most common things that they avoid are social events and gatherings.
Often, people who struggle with anxiety feel better when they attend events or gatherings with others they know. Sometimes, one specific person makes them feel at ease. It’s important for that person to attend these events as well. Just having that person there may make the anxiety less intense. When wondering how to help someone with anxiety, knowing these little details can go a long way.
Pay Attention to Reassurance Seeking
People with anxiety often seek reassurance. In fact, they might repeatedly ask questions such as, “Do you promise not to leave me?” and “Are you mad at me?” If you notice a friend or partner starting to develop these habits, it’s important to set some limits.
Believe it or not, reassurance seeking is often how anxiety snowballs. It makes them feel good for a while but eventually causes even more anxiety. Then, they might need the reassurance to lessen their anxiety symptoms. Come up with a game plan to reduce the amount of reassurance that they need.
Let Us Help a Loved One Who Struggles With Anxiety
Without treatment, anxiety can develop into an anxiety disorder. If you want to know how to help someone with anxiety, the best way is to get professional help. At PACE Mental Health Houston, we offer a number of programs that deal with mental health issues, including:
- Houston anxiety therapy
- Stress management
- Medication therapy management
- Psychiatric evaluation and consultation
- Individual and group therapies
Don’t let your friend or family member struggle with anxiety alone. Learn more about how to help someone with anxiety. You can also reach out to us for more information at *DM_DirectNumber format=period link=true*.
