Anxiety disorder can be debilitating.
People who suffer from the disorder are full of worry, irrational thoughts, and live in constant fear.
Fear of the unknown, fear of leaving the house and fear of being left behind at home.
Even though these fears are commonly unfounded, or greatly exasperated, they take a serious toll on personal relationships.
Those affected, are in a battle with something they can’t control. They have an intense sense of insecurity within themselves when it comes to relationships and knows it’s difficult and they don’t want to burden you with their irrational thoughts and worries. Instead, they push you away before you get the chance to leave.
Instead of turning away, try learning how to love someone with anxiety.
Here is how you love someone with anxiety:
Remember They’re Worth Fighting For
It might be hard sometimes, and there might be stupid fights of scenarios that they’ve created in their own head. But they’re worth fighting for, the toughest people usually are. And if you can fight with them through this, it’ll come back to you tenfold.
Just Listen
They’re going to jump from point A to point B while they play out these situations in their mind. Sometimes you’re not even going to know how they got there. The best thing you can do is let them go off on their tangent. Even if there’s no solution or a fear they worry about in the future, listening will help.
Don’t Tell Them They’re Overreacting
It might seem irrational to you. But to them, whatever they open up to you about, is something that actually keeps them up at night. So just listen as best you can.
Remember That They Trust You, But They’re Scared
You may say it’s an ex and in their mind, they jump to cheating. You say it’s a friend and it’s someone trying to break you two up. It’s not you and your relationship that isn’t trusted, it’s every worse case scenario automatically playing out in their head and they hate themselves for it.
Be Responsive
You’ve probably noticed they answer embarrassingly fast and they know not everyone is like them. ‘I can’t talk now this is why I’ll text you later.’ Silence kills anyone with anxiety. They have the ability to create problems in their mind that aren’t even there. It ends in apologies that aren’t even needed. And it adds a layer of stress to their life they wish they could control.
They Might Text More Than Once, Don’t Get Mad
You might turn your phone on and find four texts. If you can remember it’s not that they’re trying to be annoying, they simply care. They care too much and they know it makes them look bad.
It’s OK If They Want To Stay In
They might cancel at the last minute or have to leave don’t feel a sense of guilt or obligation to go with them. Just know they tried and couldn’t handle it. What sets people with anxiety off can be many things. For a lot of people, parties in which they don’t know someone ends in two ways, they’ll either be quiet and awkward or you’ll be carrying them out as they chose vodka to ease their worries.
Accept Their Apology
They are so observant. Whether it’s a night out gone wrong, a triple text, saying or doing the wrong thing. They will pick up on the slightest shift in you and before you even realize you might be upset and they will apologize for it.
Help When You Can, Know When You Can’t
They would rather have ten meltdowns than admit they can’t handle something. They’ll always say yes and never turn anyone away. And in those moments where it seems like they are going to fall apart and break just hold them. Help them if you can but know they’re inclined to not ask for help and are used to dealing with things on their own.
They Love Hard, And You Might Just Need It
When uncompleted lists, plans get messed up, texts go unanswered, it might overwhelm someone with anxiety. If there is something they are good at its love. If there’s something they’re strong in, it’s their ability to show you how much they adore and appreciate you. It may take them some time to trust you, but once they do their capacity to love you will fill you in ways, you didn’t know you were empty or missing something.
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