Anxiety is a common feeling that everyone can relate to. It can strike anyone and at any time. It’s not something you can simply ignore and hope it goes away. It can be crippling for some, making it difficult for them to function and lead a normal life.
If you know someone who is struggling with anxiety, then you’re probably wondering how you can help them. The good news is that there are many ways in which you can support them. The bad news is that it takes more than just understanding their situation. That being said, with a bit of know-how and patience, it’s never too late to help someone with anxiety.
Learn About Anxiety
Before you can help a friend with anxiety, you need to understand it. Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, worry, or panic that happens out of the blue. It can happen when you’re facing a big challenge, like giving a presentation at work, breaking up with someone, or losing something that was important to you. These feelings can make you feel like you’re not ready for something, or like your life is out of control.
Anxiety is an individual matter and everyone experiences it differently, so one of the most important steps to help someone with anxiety is not to compare your experience with someone else.
Let Them Vent
If you want to help your friend with anxiety, one of the most important steps is to let them vent. This is especially important when they’re feeling overwhelmed. Anxiety can make people feel like they need to do everything perfectly, or, conversely, that they can do nothing at all. This can make them feel frustrated, which can lead to more anxiety.
Venting can help reduce this frustration, which in turn can make your friend feel less anxious. It can also give them a chance to think about what’s going on in their life. Talking about their feelings can help them process them, which can make them easier to handle. It can also help you understand your friend better. Let them vent, listen to them, and if they tell you something surprising or shocking, keep your emotions in check.
Listen Deeply
Next, listen deeply. Anxiety is often a very powerful feeling that can affect people in many different ways. It can be uncomfortable for your friend to talk about their feelings, so you might not understand them fully. Asking questions and letting them talk about what’s going on in their life can help you understand them better. Listening deeply to their feelings will help you understand them better, and it will help you show that you care. It can also help your friend feel less anxious. If possible, let them talk as much as possible and speak only when necessary or when asked.
Spend With Them As Much Time As You Can
Spending time with your friend can help you understand them better, as well as make them feel less anxious. It can be hard for people with anxiety to take time for themselves when they’re feeling overwhelmed. This can be especially true if they have a mental health condition.
Spending time with your friend can help them feel less lonely and less isolated. It can also help you get a better sense of how they’re feeling, which can make it easier to help them.
Be There For Them
Being there for your friend doesn’t mean that you have to take on their responsibilities or do everything for them. It can just mean that you are there for them when they need it. Let them know that you are there for them and that you want to help. This can be a great source of support for someone suffering from anxiety.
If they are feeling overwhelmed or need someone to talk to, then being there for them can make a world of difference. Tell them that they can contact or visit you at any time or that they can visit you at any time.
Be Yourself
Last, but not least, don’t try to be someone you’re not. The best thing you can do to help your friend with anxiety is to be yourself, and not act as a therapist or psychologist. You are their friend, so you should act as a friend.
If you have experience with anxiety, draw on your own experience. If you have never had anxiety, try to be listening, understanding and helpful, without just reading on the internet what anxiety is and then drawing on that information. As has already been said, everyone experiences anxiety differently, so what you read on the internet may not necessarily apply to everyone.
Summing up
Anxiety is not something that disappears overnight. However, if you have a friend or loved one who suffers from anxiety, remember these tips from our article. Let them vent, listen deeply, spend time with them as much as you can, be there for them, and be yourself. If your friend’s anxiety is severe, encourage them to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor. This can be a great way for them to get the help they need to manage their anxiety.
