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What should you never say to someone with anxiety?
Here are a few things not to say to someone with anxiety—and what TO say instead.
- “Calm down.”
- “It’s not a big deal.”
- “Why are you so anxious?”
- “I know how you feel.”
- “Stop worrying.”
- “Just breathe.”
- “Have you tried [fill in the blank]?”
- “It’s all in your head.”
Should you ask someone with anxiety if they are OK?
What Not to Say. “Have you tried ___?” Don’t ask someone with anxiety if they’ve tried certain health or wellness techniques to overcome their feelings. While this may work for people with temporary anxiety about certain situations, it may not work for someone with an anxiety disorder.
What do I say to my boyfriend with anxiety?
What you can say: “When you feel comfortable, I’d like to have a conversation about your anxiety. I want to be sure I’m doing everything I can to make you feel safe in this relationship, and that I’m fully understanding your experience so that I can be a better partner.”
How do you cheer up someone with anxiety?
6 ways to help a friend with depression or anxiety
- Learn about what your friend is going through.
- Be open and welcoming, and listen.
- Take their feelings seriously.
- Help them to find support.
- Continue supporting them and respond to emergencies.
- Celebrate their successes.
How can you help a friend with anxiety?
Help them to get comfortable (have them sit or lie down). Ask them to name five things they can see, hear, smell or feel. Reassure them that they’re experiencing panic and that it will go away. If the symptoms continue, become worse, or they don’t improve after 20–30 minutes, call 000.
What can I say to someone who is struggling with anxiety?
Below are twenty-five helpful things you can say to hold space for someone who is struggling with anxiety. There are three steps to supporting someone who is struggling, explains Whitney Goodman, LMFT, “Show up, listen, be patient” and perhaps most importantly, always ask before giving advice.
Is your friend’s anxiety really that bad?
If your friend told you they’re feeling super anxious, they clearly are not OK. Constantly asking them for a status update can make them feel pressured to get better now. When we see someone we care about suffering, our instinct is often to try to fix it. But some things, including anxiety, can’t be fixed by outsiders.
What do you say to someone who is having a panic attack?
“Don’t worry” falls short when someone experiences anxiety. There are better things to say when a love one needs support. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, but if you’ve ever been around someone who is having a panic attack, suggesting “Try not to worry” is not the best idea.
Is it difficult to understand anxiety?
For those who haven’t been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, it might be difficult to truly comprehend what’s going on inside the mind of the 40 million American adults who live with the condition. What exactly do you say to a loved one who is feeling extreme stress? How do you make them feel better if you can’t process what’s going on yourself?