What Not To Say To A Person With Anxiety? 11 Phrases About Anxiety That You Should Not Say

Experiencing anxiety is a completely normal part of life. However, when anxiety ends up affecting many areas of our daily lives, we are faced with a disorder that must be treated. In fact, anxiety disorders can lead to changes in the attitude and behavior of those who suffer from it, which is why it is usually difficult know what not to say to a person with anxiety

What not to say to a person with anxiety?

Some expressions, even if well-intentioned, can cause negative effects in people who suffer from anxiety. Therefore, if you want to know how to help a person with anxiety we recommend that you try to avoid the following:

1. “You just need to calm down”: This is one of the phrases about anxiety that we should not say to someone who is facing this disorder. The reason is that this mental disorder is not an option, that is, it is not controllable. For this reason, telling someone to ‘calm down’ is invalidating the person with anxiety and even implying that they are choosing to have the anxiety disorder. Instead of telling her this, it is better to ask her what you can do to help her.
2. “You shouldn’t worry about that.”: Worries are common in people with pathological anxiety. In these cases, thoughts about a worry can become a big problem for those who suffer from anxiety. In fact, people with anxiety may come to know that their fears are unlikely to come true. However, anxiety disorders are characterized precisely by these intrusive and negative thoughts. Therefore, one of these phrases about anxiety It is not a good way to help people who suffer from this disorder. Instead, it would be better to listen carefully to these concerns that are troubling them.
3. “I know how you feel” : This phrase is only useful if you have actually gone through an anxiety disorder. In reality, a person with anxiety can see their life affected in such a way that it becomes a daily struggle against the symptoms of this disorder. For this reason, sometimes something What not to say to a person with anxiety is precisely ‘normalizing’ this state, since it will be more difficult for you to accept that you are facing a disorder that must be treated.
4. “It’s true, this could happen.” : Something not to say to someone with anxiety It is precisely anything that feeds your fears. For example, if someone has a phobia of flying, reminding them that a plane crash can happen is not the best thing you can tell them. Instead, to help her, you can validate her feelings, that is, point out that this may worry her, but that it is not likely to happen.
5. ““You are an anxious person.”: No one likes to be labeled for something that causes stress and immense pain. Mark one person with anxiety Because of your symptoms it can be detrimental to your self-concept and self-esteem, as you will feel that others see this disorder as a defining characteristic.
6. “You just have to relax ”: In many cases telling someone to ‘relax’ can have the opposite effect, that is, making them even more tense. Therefore it is something we shouldn’t say to someone with anxiety
7. “It’s all in your head ”: Although worries and anxious thoughts are not really ‘reality’, to help someone with anxiety we must avoid these types of statements. The reason is that commenting on this does not make the symptoms of this disorder more controllable and in fact, saying this can increase anxiety by trying to ‘control’ these thoughts.
8. “everything is going to be fine ”: Although this phrase seems like something we should all say to one another person with anxiety, the reality is that when someone is going through a difficult time, this will not help much. The reason for this is that at these moments those who suffer from anxiety will not feel it that way. Therefore, it is something we should not say to a person with anxiety.
9. “Things could be worse ”: Yes, things can always be worse. But this is a phrase you should not say to someone with anxiety since the person could feel guilty for feeling the symptoms of this disorder.
10. “No need to come”: Especially if you are trying to help someone with social anxiety, it is normal that you try to give him or her an outlet so that he or she does not suffer from these symptoms. But this type of expression is something we should not say to a person. person with anxiety because it confirms to them that they are not capable of overcoming it and this can perpetuate their anxiety.
11. “Be more positive ”: You probably think What to say this to a person with anxiety It may be optimistic, but in reality, it can even be frustrating. This disorder causes people to have certain difficulties in thinking ‘logically’ and positively, therefore, it is difficult for them to try to change their negative attitude. In these cases, it may be more advisable to listen to their thoughts and alert them to work on these symptoms.

If you don’t know what to say to someone person with anxiety and you want to help her, you should know that a good way to do it is to listen to her and be there when she needs it. Additionally, it will always be great advice to recommend the help of a mental health professional. In fact, on many occasions, knowing that someone is there without judgment and with love can be the best help for someone who suffers from this disorder.