If you are wondering how to help someone with anxiety, you know someone who may be struggling with an anxiety disorder, and you want to help. What can you do? There are several ways that you can help someone with anxiety. While there is no permanent cure, there are several therapeutic options that give people the skills and confidence to manage their symptoms and triggers successfully.
Roaring Brook Recovery is a fully accredited mental health treatment facility that supports adults with generalized anxiety disorders, panic disorders, social anxiety, or other anxiety disorders. Our outpatient programs are available in person or through telehealth services and use a mix of behavioral and holistic therapies to create a comprehensive treatment plan.
To enroll in anxiety treatment in Lexington, call 855.590.9944 today to schedule a consultation and mental health assessment.
How to Help Someone with Anxiety
Anxiety is a very common mental health disorder that affects over 40 million people annually.1 Of those, a small percentage live with severe anxiety symptoms that can cause a number of physical and psychological symptoms. Someone going through a panic attack can experience the following symptoms:
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
- hyperventilation
- A rush of adrenaline
- Chest pain
- Numbness in the arms and legs
- Derealization/Depersonalization
- Feeling like they are losing control or dying
- An overwhelming sense of fear or terror
These symptoms can be triggered by seemingly nothing to the outside observer, but there is always a reason behind them. Anxiety disorders can stem from past or recent traumas, a chemical imbalance in the brain, various health conditions, substance abuse, or other personal and environmental factors.
If a friend or loved one has an anxiety disorder and is not talking with a professional therapist, their symptoms will only worsen and can lead to a substance use disorder. If you can convince them to enroll in a therapy program, that is the first step in helping them regain control of their lives.
At Roaring Brook, our anxiety disorder treatment programs support anyone having trouble managing their anxiety symptoms and triggers. We develop individualized treatment programs based on each participant’s triggers, severity of symptoms, and any corresponding drug or alcohol addiction.
The Benefits of Helping a Loved One with Anxiety
Anxiety is a very manageable disorder when there are people in their corner to support them in their time of need. If you would like to be that person, here are some of the ways you can help a loved one with anxiety:
Mental Health Education
Learn all you can about anxiety and the specific disorder they struggle with. Knowing what the symptoms are can help you recognize when they are struggling, even if they say they don’t need help. By the way, a lot of people with anxiety have a difficult time asking for help, even when it is essential.
Listen and Respond
When a person is experiencing a panic attack or heightened symptoms, they often feel like they are not being heard or are misunderstood. During these difficult times, you can help by actively listening to what they are saying and respond. Let them know you hear them and want to be there for them.
Know Their Triggers
Understanding personal triggers is essential for preventing anxiety symptoms from worsening or triggering an attack. The best way to learn a loved one’s triggers is to enroll in an anxiety treatment program where a therapist can uncover the reason behind the disorder and what types of situations or people trigger them.
Be Part of Their Coping Strategies
There are many holistic activities that can ease anxiety symptoms. Meditation, yoga, gardening, or dancing are just a few activities you can do with them that have positive effects on reducing anxiety. Doing these activities together is a great way to build a stronger relationship and instill healthy relationship traits.
Find Anxiety Treatment in Lexington at Roaring Brook
Learning how to help someone with anxiety can reduce a friend or loved one’s symptoms and help them cope when things become too much. If symptoms become unmanageable, enrolling in an anxiety treatment program is the best way to learn how to manage symptoms and triggers and lead a happy and healthy life.
Roaring Brook Recovery supports Kentuckians who struggle with an anxiety disorder and want to find better ways of coping. We use cognitive-behavioral therapies to teach participants healthier coping skills to reduce anxiety symptoms and stop panic attacks from happening.
Call 855.590.9944 today or use our online contact form to schedule a tour of our Lexington facility and discuss the benefits of our anxiety treatment programs.
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