Dating someone with anxiety can be confusing for both partiesย of the relationship. It can be, at best, as good as a normal relationship, and at worst, damaging for thoseย involved. Therefore, it must be handled with great care and caution. What is one supposed to do if his significant other is suffering from an anxiety disorder?
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1.Understand
Educate yourself about her/his disorder. Understand that anxiety will never be as simple as โit’s all in your headโ whichย can be ignoredย when needed. Anxiety is physical; it produces symptoms much like those you face in dangerous situations such as car crashes and serious injuries. The attacks dominate the personโs mind, rendering him unable to think or evaluate mattersย logically.
2.Donโt Expect Too Much
Too much expectations of how your partner should behave, especially those that surface as a result of blind comparison to normal people, can be extremely unhealthy as theyย put more pressure onย your partner increasing their anxiety levels even more.
3.Set Boundariesย And Respect Them
When dating someone with anxiety, boundaries can be a very sensitive issue so donโt take it personally. People with anxiety disorders usually feel stressed when they think ofย consequences; respecting their boundaries, in the physical and the mental sense, will take some of that edge off them. Anxiety sometimes comes with paranoia too; make sure youโre having a transparentย relationship. Provide them with clear statements about your position in the relationship, what they mean to you and how you feel about being with them. Donโt give a chance to their disturbed cognition to take the steering wheel and make erraticย guesses about your level involvement; this can make things get very rocky.
4.Include Them
Try to engage together in activities that can help them with their anxiety. Exercising, singing, dancing, meditating all greatly fall under the criteria for anxiety relief and treatment. Involve your partner, gradually and patiently, in social situations you know they may fancy hadnโt they been battling anxiety; donโt push them into it or else they could panic. Stay close throughout, and engage in positive conversations. Exposingย your partner toย uplifting social situations in your presenceย can boost their confidence, help them get more acquainted with the idea of opening up to people, and make them appreciate and trust your involvement even more.
5.Look After Them, And Yourself
Be tolerant with your partner; understand that recovery from mental illness is a long journeyย whichย requires a lot of will and strength, both of which are feebly present in someone with an anxiety disorder due to the weakening nature of the disease. Take note of the important medications and treatment tips theyโre supposed to keep up with, in case anything comes up. Have a talk with your partner and make him/her understand how willing you are to help them live through this and maintain the relationship; express your desire for a two-sided relationship of caring and looking after one another. You need just as much attention and love as your partner; keeping this balance is the only thing that will keep the relationship going.
