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For the People Who Love Someone with Anxiety

06 of 07

You don’t need to fix it. You just need to be there.

What can help

Stay calm. Your steady presence can help their nervous system settle.

Listen without rushing to solve it, just hold space for them.

Ask what they need: “Do you want me to help, distract you or just sit with you?”

Believe them. Even if their fear doesn’t make sense to you, their distress is real.

Offer practical help: making a phone call together, coming along to an appointment, taking a task off their plate.

What to avoid

“Just calm down,” “Stop worrying” or “It’s all in your head.”
Making fun of their fears, or losing patience with them
Taking over everything. Helping them avoid every hard thing can, over time, make the anxiety grow. Support them to take small, brave steps at their own pace.

Look after yourself too

Supporting someone with anxiety can be draining. You are allowed to have limits, take breaks and get support of your own.

Back to Anxiety

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The Nervous System

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Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies

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Back to The Challenges

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