Being in a relationship is hard enough, but being in a relationship with someone who has anxiety can be even harder. You may feel more limited about where you can go, and you might worry about accidentally triggering anxiety in your girlfriend. And yet, you still want to be the best boyfriend possible. If your girlfriend has anxiety, it's important to be supportive and understanding and educate yourself as much as you can about anxiety.
Before we look at how to be a good boyfriend to a girl, let's go over exactly what anxiety is.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, and fear. These feelings can be so strong that they interfere with daily life. People with anxiety may avoid certain situations out of fear, or they may experience physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorder in the United States, affecting 40 million adults.
To learn more about anxiety versus panic, check out our post: Anxiety Attack VS Panic Attack: 5 Important Differences
How to Be Supportive When Your Girlfriend Has Anxiety
1. Talk about her anxiety openly and honestly.
The first step to being a good boyfriend when your girlfriend has anxiety is to talk about her anxiety openly and honestly. This means being willing to listen when she needs to talk or vent and not making fun of her or telling her she's overreacting. It's also important to ask questions so that you can better understand what she's going through.
2. Help her come up with a plan to manage her anxiety.
This might involve things like helping her find a therapist or counselor, coming up with a list of calming activities she can do when she's feeling anxious, or simply being there for her as a sounding board when she needs to talk through what she's feeling.
You could also offer her something like a mental health planner (paid link) or journal where she can write down her thoughts and goals.
3. Be patient.
As much as her anxiety issues may be stressing you out and causing frustration, imagine how worse it is for her! She's not purposefully trying to cause issues, so practice your patience. This means not getting frustrated when she doesn't want to go out or do something because she's feeling anxious, and understanding that it may take time for her to feel comfortable in new situations. It also means being willing to adjust your plans on the fly if she starts feeling anxious about something that was originally on the agenda.
4. Encourage her to get help if her anxiety is severe.
If you notice that her anxiety is starting to interfere with her ability to function on a day-to-day basis, it's important to encourage her to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor who specializes in treating anxiety disorders. Though you care for her and want to help, sometimes she needs the extra support of a trained professional who can help her learn and practice tools for managing anxiety. She can also talk with her doctor about medication treatment options.
5. Be there for her, no matter what.
Be supportive and understanding even on the days when she's feeling good, and be there for her if she ever experiences a panic attack or other episodes of severe anxiety. Also, show genuine empathy and care for how she's feeling, and let her know that you're always in her corner, no matter what life throws her way.
Dealing with anxiety can be tough, but it's important to remember that you're not alone. There are support groups out there for both you and your girlfriend and professional help is always available. The fact that you're looking up ways to support your girlfriend with anxiety speaks a lot about your character! Remember to take care of yourself, too. Find time to do what you enjoy so you'll then have more energy and love to give to your girlfriend.