If you know someone who suffers from anxiety, you will know that it is a rather disabling emotional state disorder that can lead to a restless person feeling exhausted and helpless. Fortunately, a lot can be done to help people cope with and treat anxiety.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Acquiring the Fundamental Information
Step 1. Learn about the causes of anxiety
Learn more about this topic. You will be able to understand the point of view of those who are sick and get a clearer idea of when you could offer them your help. Ask him if he has had a difficult past or a health problem, and if he wants to talk about something in particular.
- Although anxiety disorders depend on causes that are still not fully understood today, the presence of certain factors - such as painful or traumatic life experiences - and certain genetic traits increase the risk of suffering from anxiety.
- At other times, anxiety recurs in people suffering from conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, asthma, PMS or thyroid problems.
Step 2. Learn about the different types of anxiety
There are many anxiety disorders, each of which has different triggers. Try to understand what type of anxiety a person might be suffering from so that you can offer them more targeted help:
- Agoraphobia. It involves a strong state of anxiety in places where a person feels trapped or believes they are losing control.
- Anxiety caused by a disease. It is related to certain medical conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, or thyroid problems. Anxiety can be relieved by helping people treat their health conditions (for example, by reminding them to take medicines if they forget them).
- Generalized anxiety disorder. It is characterized by the persistent state of worry about various events of daily life.
- Anxiety due to substance abuse or withdrawal. It is related to drug use. In this case, you have to find out if it is caused by the use of substances or by the discontinuation of the use of those substances (ie by abstinence). It is possible to suggest that you see a doctor to detoxify.
- Panic attacks. They are characterized by a strong feeling of anxiety and / or fear, which lasts for several minutes. They can involve difficulty in breathing, a fast heart rate, and a feeling of danger or impending disaster.
- Social anxiety disorder. Generates a huge fear of social interactions. People may feel overly insecure, very easily embarrassed, or fear that they will ruin everything when in contact with people.
Step 3. Be aware of how anxiety is perceived
Anxiety is not fun at all. If you want to help an anxious person, try to understand what they are experiencing so that you can comfort them in relation to the symptoms they are experiencing. Symptoms of anxiety include:
- Nervousness;
- Sense of helplessness;
- Feeling of imminent danger;
- Feeling of weakness;
- Tiredness;
- Difficulty concentrating.
Step 4. Listen carefully
Each person needs to be helped in a different way. Perhaps the best way to find out how you can support someone with anxiety is to ask. You can engage in various types of behavior to show your attention:
- Take a neutral position, for example by saying "I see" or "Yes, yes".
- Adapt what you say to the emotional tone of the conversation. For example, if the other person is visibly upset, try to show them your understanding or use a reassuring tone when you say "I see" instead of appearing cold or agitated (risking to conflict with their mood.).
- Ask open-ended questions. If you want to know how you can help her, instead of asking "Are you anxious?", Try asking her: "Generally, what kind of things or situations generate anxiety in you?".
- Pay attention by trying to put your worries aside and only following what the other person is thinking and feeling.
Step 5. Put yourself in his shoes
Empathy is the ability to perceive the emotions of others and understand their point of view to get an idea of what they might be thinking or feeling on an emotional level. You have the opportunity to tune into the mood of an anxious person in several ways:
- Focusing your attention on her.
- Keeping in mind human values and experiences. Remember that each of us experiences pain, fear and anguish: these moods can help you understand the vision of an anxious person.
- Pause your judgments momentarily and consider his point of view.
- Share experiences that may relate to them, but in moderation, so as not to monopolize the conversation. The secret is to show your interlocutor that you can relate to their experiences.
Step 6. Observe the anxious subject
Learn to identify the most visible symptoms of anxiety so you know when it takes over. This way you can help or comfort him when he seems visibly in trouble. Symptoms of anxiety include:
- Nervousness;
- Wheezing;
- Sweating;
- Tremor.
Step 7. Consider the pros and cons
Do not forget that if an activity does not offer many benefits, but on the contrary makes a person anxious, perhaps it is better to stop it.
However, to encourage an anxious person to change, it is preferable to avoid being too condescending
Part 2 of 2: Addressing the Report
Step 1. Encourage healthy behaviors
Suppose the person you want to help, who suffers from social anxiety, goes to a party and has no problem being around people: don't hesitate to tell her that she was the focus of the evening and congratulate her on the way she interacted with. the others.
You will help them understand that it is not that bad to connect with people and that social interactions can enrich them
Step 2. Avoid criticizing her when anxiety takes over her course of action
It is counterproductive to berate a person for manifesting anxiety in his behavior: there is a risk that he will become even more anxious.
- If you feel frustration, instead of criticizing her, try to step away for a moment and return to her when you have calmed down.
- Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of his behavior, try to take into account the possible positives that could arise if he changes behavior. For example, if you avoid being around people, instead of getting angry try saying to them, "Imagine all the opportunities you will have to meet at tonight's party. In the past, I too have made many friends in these kinds of circumstances."
Step 3. Suggest a cure
Try to help someone with anxiety by telling them that they might benefit from seeking treatment for their problem. Remind her that the treatments to defeat this ailment are quite effective. He could go to therapy, take medications, or a combination of both.
- Keep in mind that the type of treatment to suggest depends on the type of anxiety or the underlying cause.
- For example, if she is anxious about using drugs, you may want to recommend a path to detox. If, on the other hand, it is about social anxiety, recommend that you see a mental health professional.
Step 4. Prepare for panic attacks
Sometimes anxiety causes panic attacks that cause breathing difficulties or heart palpitations, causing the anxious person to believe they are having a heart attack or lose control of themselves. Panic attacks can create tremendous fear in individuals with anxiety and those around them if they are not prepared for this eventuality.
- If the person you're helping has a panic attack, they probably won't have the strength to move, respond, or think normally. Instead of getting angry or worried, try to reassure her by telling her that it is a panic attack and that it will soon pass.
- That said, if you suspect your symptoms are not related to a panic attack, take precautions and call 911.
Step 5. Try to make her relax
Go out and have a nice evening together, or stay home.
