People who have friends or family that suffer from anxiety often face the problem of not knowing how to help. Anxiety can came at anytime, and it is hard for people without anxiety to understand what is happening to their loved one. It is important to understand that anxiety cannot be treated with normal methods. Telling a person with anxiety to not feel or think a certain way will close them off to you. However, there are many ways to help family or friends through their struggle. Helping them cope with their stress is easier than you think.

1.) Let them know that they can talk to you.

Many people struggling with anxiety feel like others do not care about their problems, or they will be judged harshly for a problem that they are facing. Letting a person who has anxiety know that you are here to listen and support and not to judge them will help them be more open about whatever issue they are experiencing, allowing them to cope with the issue. This also helps an anxiety sufferer know that you will not change they way you think about them no matter what fear or issue they may have. Knowing that they have support will help them feel happier and less anxious about their specific problems.

2.) Keep them active.

Many people with anxiety tend to shut themselves in and dwell on their problems. Keeping an anxious person active and healthy will help them take their mind off of their anxieties. Try doing things that keep you moving, such as outdoor activities. Exercise is a proven method in treating anxiety, and doing this with another person can prove beneficial.

3.) Don’t expect them to have an immediate turn around.

Anxiety is a disorder that takes time to control and deal with. Putting pressure on an anxious person can lead to more anxieties, and they may feel that they are letting you down by not improving fast enough. There will be ups and downs during the healing process, but with support, anxiety sufferers can find relief.

4.) Be yourself.

Anxious people do not want to people to walk on egg shells around them just because they have anxiety. This behavior will make them think that you do not like being around them or that you are scared of their reactions. By being yourself, it shows that you still love them and want to have the same relationship that you have always had.

5.) Spend as much time with them as you can.

Don’t change your schedule to be with them, but invest as much time as possible in them. Being with a person with anxiety can be a big help, because time spent with others is time when it is more difficult to think and dwell on anxieties. Having company will make a person feel loved and appreciated, and that their anxiety isn’t pushing their loved ones away. You and your loved one may not realize that something this easy can be so beneficial, but it really goes a long way.