Supporting a Partner with Anxiety

If you are in a relationship with someone who suffers from anxiety, feeling helpless is a common experience you share. Still, your support is extremely valuable. To offer support, don’t dismiss their anxiety, worries, or fears. Don’t try to shorten the episode. Do ask how you can help, and offer reassurance—"This will pass," "I’m here for you," etc. Nearly 60% of people who suffer from anxiety haven’t explored getting treatment for it, so encouraging medical evaluation may be a key step if social and occupational functioning suffer. Do not allow the stigma of a mental health diagnosis to inhibit getting help. Most people with anxiety disorders don’t suffer continuously, so intermittent symptoms can lead you to delay treatment. Learn more from aada.org, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, or www.anxietycanada.com.

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Keith Stein | 4/15/2021