Explaining Anxiety to Loved Ones

Finding the words to describe anxiety and how it makes you feel can be challenging, especially if you’re trying to explain it to a loved one. Not only are anxiety disorders complex on their own, but trying to describe them to someone who’s never experienced anxiety before or been diagnosed with a disorder can be uncomfortable and challenging. Many people don’t understand how anxiety works, and they may assume that you’re overreacting or that you can simply “get over” how you feel if you tried hard enough. For those struggling to put their mental illness into words, our guide on how to explain anxiety to loved ones might be able to help.

Tips for Explaining Anxiety to A Loved One

If you have anxiety, then you know how all-consuming it can be. You can’t just “get over” your thoughts, even when you know they aren’t necessarily realistic or positive. Below are some things to share with a loved one when you finally decide to open up about your symptoms.

1. Anxiety is Often Physical

Many people don’t realize that anxiety is just as physical as it is mental and emotional.

It's often coupled with extreme bouts of fear, and other symptoms include physical things like stomach cramps, bowel movements, headaches, and excessive sweating. People with anxiety may also experience these symptoms or panic attacks in moments when they’re exposed to specific fears (otherwise known as phobias) or if they’re emotionally overwhelmed or stressed.

These attacks are often marked by physical symptoms like rapid breathing, heart rate, and sweaty palms. Anxiety can also feel physically suffocating, which is why people tend to hyperventilate when they panic. When symptoms flare up, the person may feel as if they can’t think or even see clearly. To make matters worse, this physical discomfort can heighten the nervousness and fear the person is feeling, creating a horrible cycle.

Explaining this to a loved one can give them visible "proof" that you struggle with anxiety and break down any misconceptions they may have about anxiety being all "in your head".

2. You Feel On Edge

People with anxiety may feel great one day and terrible the next. For many people, it's kind of like that saying, “The straw that broke the camel’s back.” Stressors, both minor and major, pile on top of each other to the point where any little thing can send the person over the edge.

Oftentimes, specific things can trigger this build-up and a sudden explosion of symptoms. For instance, a person with social anxiety may struggle with anxiety in anticipation of an upcoming presentation or performance. Even something as simple as a night out with a group of friends.

Someone with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might feel unsafe the entire day after coming across someone who reminded them of someone who was abusive towards them or something that reminded them of the traumatic event they experienced in the past.

Other factors like mood, physical health, energy levels, and relationships can also affect a person’s anxiety levels and vice versa. And when you’re already feeling a little anxious, it’s easy for any small thing to amplify that feeling. Minor things that wouldn’t typically trigger an anxiety attack may do so in high-stress or emotional moments simply because your mind is already primed.

While you might not be able to predict nor avoid every spike in anxiety, identifying your triggers is a great way to steer clear of future panic attacks...

Visit us here to read the rest of our tips and learn more about the mental health services offered at Seaside Palm Beach.