What To Say To A Person With Anxiety? 7 Tips To Support Them
How can we support someone who suffers from anxiety? What can we say to people who suffer from this disorder? Discover how to help a loved one with anxiety disorder.
When someone close to us suffers from anxiety, it is normal for us to question how we can help them or what to say to them. In these cases, it is best to let this person know that we are there to support them. So,what can we say to a person with anxiety?
We have all experienced anxiety at some point in our lives. However, when this anxiety interferes too much with our routine, this means that it is necessary to receive treatment. In fact, anxiety is one of the most common psychological disorders today.
Because there are different types of anxiety, in some cases the symptoms may be less obvious. Additionally, all people react differently to situations that are stressful. Therefore, it can be difficult to spot a friend or family member who is struggling with anxiety.
One of the most common signs of people who suffer from anxiety is that they can become overwhelmed more easily than others. This feeling can cause them to end up reacting in a more negative way towards different stressful situations.
Knowing all this, it is completely normal that you do not know what to do or how to treat a person who is suffering from anxiety But the first step is to recognize this disorder and support those who suffer from it to seek treatment with a mental health professional.
If someone close to you suffers from anxiety, it is vital that you do not pressure them to talk more than they are willing to share with you. Faced with these feelings, you should try not to judge the other person because doing so can harm them. In this way, if not know what to say to a person with anxiety we recommend that you take the following into account:
‘I can help?’: On many occasions, when we encounter someone who is suffering, we usually offer advice immediately. We must avoid this type of behavior when we are faced with mental disorders. On the contrary, it is better to ask if you can help, even if it is by listening.
‘I’m here for you, you are not alone’: In the same way that you should try to offer your help in these cases, when someone suffers from anxiety, a good way to support them is by letting them know that you are there when he or she needs it. Even if you don’t understand everything a friend or family member is going through, you can validate their feelings when they need it.
‘Would you like to do something?’: In some cases, knowing what to say to a person with anxiety It can be complicated, since you probably don’t want to talk about it. Therefore, one way to help these people is precisely by offering a plan to do together. The ideal would be some activity that you enjoy and that helps you relax your mind and body. Something that may seem as simple as going for a walk or having a drink can be very supportive.
‘Do you want me to go?’: For people who suffer from social anxiety, it can sometimes be difficult to ask others for help even though they want or need it. Therefore, something What can you say to someone with anxiety? It is precisely to ask whether or not they want you to go with them.
Help them feel safe: Another thing you can do to help someone with anxiety It is precisely trying to make them feel safe. For example, you can try to let him know that nothing can hurt him right now or that you will try to help him relax.
Talk to him through memories: Visualization is a technique that is used to try to relax both the mind and the body, which can be ideal when someone suffers from anxiety. To use it, you should try to remind the person of a pleasant situation that you had together.
Put things in perspective: For example, you can ask ‘How big does the problem feel right now on a scale of one to 10?‘ In addition, you can try to make them visualize how big the problem really is, that is, make them aware that it really is more manageable than they think. In these cases, you can say, ‘I understand that the problem feels so difficult now, but,’What can we do now to try to solve a small part of it?‘In this way, the problem is divided and you can act together to alleviate the anxiety that is perceived at this moment.
When you are trying to help someone who suffers from this disorder, it is also important to know what not to say to a person with anxiety. For example, it is crucial to avoid using words like ‘crazy’, as they can stigmatize mental health problems and make people feel worse in these circumstances. Additionally, if you believe that this person requires the help of a mental health professional because anxiety is limiting their life, it is vital that you recommend that they go to therapy.
