Featured photo: How to Help a Partner with Anxiety: Advice for Couples - a photo of a couple hugging
Having anxiety and dealing with it on a daily basis is difficult – people who have it will agree. But helping your loved one deal with it can also be a difficult task, especially if you don’t understand this condition. Depending on the personality and the reasons that are causing it, there are many different ways one could help a partner with anxiety.
The first thing you should know about this condition is that it can look different in different people. For most, it is based on real or imaginary fears that are not easy to ignore. As a result, anxiety almost always affects the emotional, professional, and physical well-being of people with it. The thing is, there are different types of anxiety and different ways this condition can present itself. Your partner might be aggressive, or they might appear calm while avoiding social situations and interactions. Here are some signs you should recognize if your partner is dealing with anxiety:
To help a partner with anxiety, you must first acknowledge the symptoms. Your partner might already know that they’re suffering from this condition, or you might start realizing it together. Either way, there are many types of anxiety, and not all are easy to recognize. What you should do is try to get to know your partner the best you can, communicate with them honestly, and acknowledge their feelings. This disorder can affect many aspects of one’s life and make one seem highly functional. Many confuse chronic stress with anxiety, but they’re not necessarily the same thing. So, make sure to talk to your partner about their symptoms and try not to minimize any of them.
One of the most difficult things to handle about an anxiety disorder is social and emotional behavior. If you’re a partner who needs support and help, you might feel like your relationship is highly affected by this condition. And you’ll be right. Your partner might be dealing with different fears and worries, making it difficult for them to communicate their emotions.
Some of their behaviors could be misleading. This is why you’ll have to armor yourself with patience to help a partner with anxiety. There is no easy solution for this disorder, and your partner might feel like they don’t have anyone to turn to. Feeling lonely and lost with an anxiety disorder is very common, but there are ways you can help treat this condition.
When it comes to helping a loved one with anxiety disorder, there is only as much as you can do. Trying to “fix” the other person without professional assistance is not a smart idea. If your partner is anxious, one issue can lead to another, and they can even turn to addiction for solutions. Your interference can only lead to disappointment and more stress. That’s why you should understand your role in the process and know how much you can get involved. The best thing you can do is be there for your partner, even when you can’t offer the best advice. Learning everyday behaviors can be helpful, especially if you’re living under the same roof.
It’s easy to subconsciously take the role of the therapist with people we love. To help them, we often try to give advice and think it will help. However, anxiety symptoms are not the same for everyone. They’re especially hard to treat if the person acts highly functional. Instead of trying to prevent behaviors and “treat” the symptoms by giving advice, the best thing you can do to help a partner with anxiety is to suggest therapy sessions.
To understand this disorder, you will have to communicate with your partner the best you can. Some days it will seem like you can’t do much to help, and your loved one will not be in the mood to talk. And that will be all right! The important thing is to recognize the right time to talk and show support. In many cases, just being close to the person you love will be enough to lower your anxiety level.
Be ready to not react in certain situations. If we may say so, anxiety disorder is tricky – sometimes, ignoring the situation for a few minutes can be easier for your partner than insisting on the talk. For example, if your partner is battling addiction, anxiety symptoms can appear for physiological reasons, and there won’t be much you can do to help. Experts from Bright Futures Treatment Center FL suggest that seeking professional help, in this case, will be the best solution. All you can do is try and learn how your partner calms down and what triggers their stress. You can help a partner with anxiety by letting them know they’re safe when you’re around.
Lastly, the only long-lasting and efficient solution for anxiety disorder is therapy. No matter how educated you are on this matter, there is no way you can “fix” this problem if you’re emotionally involved with a person. This is why the best thing you can do is support your partner to start therapy sessions with a professional. Therapy can be the best way to help a partner with anxiety and improve your relationship. No matter your financial situation, there is always a way to find someone to provide professional help. There are even therapists who work with cases without social security or health insurance.
Whether your partner has a highly-functional anxiety disorder or this condition is interfering with their everyday life, there are ways you can help. What you can do is communicate daily, offer help, and make them feel safe. In order to help a partner with anxiety, you will have to armor yourself with knowledge and patience.
I have been writing blogs and articles for nearly nine years. Apart from personal experiences, I also take interest in sharing my knowledge on varied topics such as fashion, healthcare, travel, and digital marketing.