Top 6 Tips For Dating Someone With Generalized Anxiety

“Don’t Believe Every Worrying Thought You Have, Worrying Thoughts Are Notoriously Inaccurate.” Renee Jain

Generalized anxiety disorder can be pervasive, and dating someone with generalized can cause you to become confused and frustrated. You may even begin to wonder whether the relationship is worth all the trouble. But if you want to help, then follow the below discussed information to make the process much simpler and easier:

Listen to your partner

People with generalized anxiety often have millions of thoughts, often jumbled thoughts, running through their minds. Speaking to someone about the thoughts can help ease. Hence, try and listen to what your partner is trying to say. He/she may not need any advice; but knowledge of the fact that someone is out there who is willing to listen and understand the tribulations can be very helpful.

Show patience

Anxious people tend to assume the worst and frequently jump to conclusions. This is usually because they are often unable to correctly perceive others’ emotions. For example, you may be content and hence not talkative. But this may be misinterpreted as you being angry at your partner.

It is therefore important for you to be patient with your partner’s anxiety and not get angry for his/her irrational behavior. Talk it out and work together towards creating a solution for the next time.

Offer support during recovery

Anxiety is certainly treatable and if your partner is undergoing the process to recovery through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or other methods, then offer them all the support you can. You may ask them if they want you to accompany them for the therapy or coaching sessions. It is possible to learn a lot about your partner’s anxiety problems by attending just one session.

You may also ensure that your partner does not forget to focus on their breathing exercises when they experience heightened anxiety, and assist in their research about different meditation techniques for anxiety alleviation.

Learn the anxiety triggers

When dating someone with generalized anxiety talk to your partner and learn about their different triggers. And then help your partner systematically confront these triggers. For example, if the fear of death triggers anxiety attacks, then inform your partner in advance about death scenes in movies or TV series so that when the moment happens they can begin working with the new skill sets they adopted from their teachers.

You should not feel uncomfortable and always on lookout for triggers when you are with your partner, but some reasonable sensitivity to triggers can help relax both of you and make the relationship richer and happier.

Avoid trivializing your partner’s feelings

Even if you think that your partner is being irrational or unrealistic, the last thing you should do is call them crazy or call their fears stupid or silly. Most anxious people do know that their fears are exaggerated, but that does not prevent the onset of anxiety and panic attacks. So instead of trivializing their fears, try and understand the causes behind the anxiousness.

Please, don’t baby your partner

When dating someone with generalized anxiety there is a fine line between babying your partner and being sensitive to their needs. Telling your partner to stay indoors as outdoors terrifies them is not good for them. On the other hand, forcing your partner to go outside even when they are not ready to do so is also bad. You may talk to your partner’s therapist, mentor, or coach to find that balance.

Also remember to be there for your partner, take care of your own mental health, ask your partner about different ways that you can help them, be ok with their need for space, and ask questions if u don’t understand.

How Does Your Partner Deal With Your Generalized Anxiety? Share Your Tips And Comments In The Comment Section Below.

The Anxiety Guy Community Links :

Join the #1 Health Anxiety & GAD support page on Facebook.

Got questions? Ask them on YouTube.

Follow me on Twitter.