To help someone with anxiety, it is important to provide understanding, empathy, and patience. Key ways to support them include actively listening without judgment, validating their feelings, and encouraging professional support if needed. Practical help can involve assisting with breathing exercises like box breathing, grounding techniques, and accompanying them to appointments. It is also helpful to educate oneself about anxiety and be patient with changing plans or behaviors due to anxiety. Encouraging relaxation activities, avoiding telling them to simply "stop worrying," and asking directly how you can support them are vital approaches. Staying connected and gently offering help without forcing solutions fosters a supportive environment for someone with anxiety.
Ways to Help Someone with Anxiety
- Listen actively and empathetically: Create a safe, distraction-free space; show understanding with responses like “It’s okay to feel this way”.
- Validate their feelings: Affirm their experiences verbally or nonverbally to reduce feelings of isolation.
- Be patient: Understand anxiety can cause irritability or last-minute changes; reassure them you’re there for them.
- Educate yourself: Learn about anxiety to better understand their experience and show support.
- Encourage mindfulness techniques: Practice 4-4-4-4 breathing or the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method with them during anxious moments.
- Support their professional help journey: Help arrange and attend medical or therapy appointments if needed.
- Offer social support carefully: Attend social events together or support one-on-one interactions, recognizing that social anxiety may affect their comfort.
- Avoid telling them to “stop worrying”: This is non-helpful as they usually are aware and trying to control their anxiety.
- Stay connected: Regularly check in, and offer gentle support without forcing conversations about anxiety if they are not ready.
These steps together can create a compassionate, understanding environment that significantly helps someone living with anxiety.
