We all have a part of us that wants to help those we care about, especially if they play a significant role in our everyday lives, such as family members, friends or significant others. It’s possible that you have someone close to you that’s experiencing mental health distress, such as anxiety. 

A person’s mental health challenges, including generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder, are diagnosable health conditions that they have to navigate. But while they are leading the way on their mental health journey, you can be a support system by their side. 

While you may feel helpless watching someone struggle with anxiety, there are still ways for you to take action and help them along their mental health journey. 

Here are a few tips on how to help someone with anxiety:

• Be an active listener

It can seem like a very basic action, but listening to someone open up about their anxiety can make a difference. But be sure that you’re not just listening to respond. Be an active listener by providing undivided attention to a person who may be trying to untangle their worried thoughts. 

Giving someone the space to discuss their anxiety in a safe, judgment-free space can help remove any shame they may be feeling due to their challenges. These open and honest conversations can also help alleviate some of their negative emotions and allow their brains to slow down for a bit.

• Validate their feelings

Providing validation for anxious thoughts can have a bigger impact than you may realize. A core aspect of anxiety is making a person worry about the uncertainty of the future and think about all of the possible outcomes, especially the negative ones. But validating their feelings by saying things like “That must be scary,” you’re showing that you don’t judge them for how they’re thinking, even if their thought processes aren’t always logical. 

You should also do your best to avoid minimizing their feelings by saying, “That’s not that big of a deal” or “Just relax and you’ll be OK.” While you may think these statements will help reduce their anxiety, they’re more likely to just be perceived as dismissive.

• Don’t compare your situations

When someone is opening up about something that they’re having trouble with, it can be easy to think of a similar situation that you’ve been through and share how you dealt with it. While some people feel less alone in their challenges when they know others have gotten through similar ones, others can feel like you’re making the conversation about you. Be sure to ask if they would mind you sharing a similar experience.

Try no to say, “I know exactly what you’re going through” because every situation has different circumstances. There’s no “exactly” about it. You also should avoid saying things like “You shouldn’t complain. Others have it much harder.” Their hardships are valid, even if they’re “not as bad” as others.

• Ask about treatment options if needed

While having open and honest conversations with a trusted person can help ease anxiety, further support may be helpful. You shouldn’t push a person to seek treatment for their anxiety, such as a therapist, until they’re ready. But it’s OK to bring it up with a question like, “Have you thought about talking to someone?” However they respond, accept it with understanding.

If they show interest in treatment options, but they’re unsure where to start looking, ask if you can help them consider a few courses of action through collaborative research for resources in your area.

If someone in your life is experiencing anxiety, you don’t need to just sit by and watch them struggle. You can be there as a support system without making them feel embarrassed or looked down on. But they will likely see the most progress on their anxiety if they talk to a professional. 

You can also discuss more intensive options if you believe that their anxiety is taking over and interfering with their quality of life. At Lightfully, we have four levels of care for people with anxiety disorders:

• Residential Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization Program 
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Virtual Programs (vIOP and vPHP)

Lightfully takes a unique approach to treatment called Precision Care Model (PCM). This clinical model allows our licensed clinicians to create a compassionate and fully personalized treatment plan for each client. Our model uses the most effective aspects of evidence-based treatments to target the drivers behind mental health disorders and symptoms.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.