How can you help your partner when they are dealing with anxiety regularly?

This can be a difficult thing to understand: how to help your partner when dealing with anxiety. It is difficult to stand by watching and can leave you feeling completely helpless. You don’t know how to help them.

It can be extremely frustrating to always be arguing over something neither of you can control. You may feel useless when you can see your partner is going through emotional torment. This has been known to cause a few relationship problems. This happens when one partner can’t open up or a partner doesn’t make an effort to understand their partner.

Here are some tips on how you can help when your partner is having an anxiety-filled day.

Be Patient

The most important thing, no matter what the circumstances, is to stay patient. Anxiety attacks, l and all that accompanies them, can often happen at inconvenient times. Even if you’re running late, at an important event, or are in the middle of a busy shopping center, your partner will need time to recover. They often need to remove themselves from the situation completely.

It is important not to get frustrated. Remember, the best thing for your partner is to be supportive. Ask them how you can help them feel better. This may not be the same every time.

Ask About Their Therapy

If your partner is currently going through anxiety counselling or talking to a therapist, this will help to find the root cause of what is causing their anxiety. Ask them if they would like to share what transpired in their sessions. Don’t pressure them if they want to stay private about them.

Of course, there may be some sensitive information they want to keep between themselves and their counselor. But any information you can obtain on what to do to help while they are having an attack, will help you to feel a more equipped.

Be Present And Adaptable

Some days your partner will appreciate you being there and looking after them. Other days they may just want to be left alone. Anxiety can make a person feel extremely guilty. Your partner may try pushing you away as they do not want to bring you down.

It’s a good idea to reassure them that you are there for them no matter what. Listen to what they say and how they feel. Don’t be offended if your partner just wants to be by themselves. They may be feeling extremely fatigued or just can’t handle social interaction that particular day.

However even when they want to be alone, knowing that you are nearby can be very comforting for them. Especially if anxiety puts your partner in a vulnerable position. They may need you if they suddenly have an anxiety attack or have any harmful thoughts.

If either you or your partner need to talk to someone at anytime of the day you can call The Samaritans, who will be able to connect you with a professional to talk to.   

Everyone is different when it comes to dealing with their mental health. They will each handle it in their own individual way. If your partner has opened up about their struggles, they trust you. They can be themselves in front of you without the mask that many people wear to hide what the are going through. They care deeply for you.

All you can do is try your best to help them and pick up strategies through experience of how best to help them. Talk to them, be open and patient. Eventually, things will start to fall into a natural rhythm. You will be keyed in enough to intuitively understand how your partner is feeling.  

Collaborative Post

Susan McCord @ The Dear Sybersue Talk Show