How Do You Help Someone with Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the world, affecting an estimated 19% of American adults every year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Because 31% of adults will have an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, chances are you know someone who is suffering from the condition’s overarching symptoms, such as excessive feelings of anxiety, worrying, or dread that interfere with their daily lives. You might even wonder if anxiety can cause addiction or if your friend or loved one could be tempted to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to numb the side effects of this mental health challenge. So, how do you help someone with anxiety disorder? Let’s explore some things you can do to offer your support — and what you shouldn’t say or do if you’re trying to help.

What Not to Do When Someone Is Having an Anxiety Attack?

When considering how to help someone with anxiety disorder, it can be useful to understand some of the side effects that they might have from the various kinds of anxiety disorders. One common misconception is the belief that anxiety disorder can cause “anxiety attacks,” which isn’t technically a medical term, according to WebMD. Still, people with this disorder can indeed suffer from periods of especially intense worry, dread, or anxiety (which is out of proportion to reality) that can make it hard to sleep, concentrate, or relax. When someone talks about an “anxiety attack,” this is most likely what they’re describing, and it can last for days or weeks before they feel better.

Panic attacks, meanwhile, are shorter periods of intense fear or dread that can come on seemingly out of the blue and dissipate just minutes or hours later. During these attacks, people can feel physical effects like a racing heartbeat, dizziness, and shortness of breath, and they might feel like they’re dying or having a heart attack. 

WebMD suggests friends and family members can help their loved ones during anxiety or panic attacks by providing empathetic, informed support. Here are some tips that can help:

• Stay calm, and let your friend know they’re OK.
• Stay with the person and help them get through it.
• Try to be positive and encouraging. You might ask what’s causing their panic or how often this has happened. Getting them to think about these questions rather than focus on their panic can help them end the attack.
• Encourage your friend or loved one to get help from professionals who can provide therapy and medication to get anxiety and panic under control. If they’re also suffering from addiction problems, they should consider getting dual diagnosis treatment that can address substance abuse and mental health struggles at the same time.

WebMD also offers suggestions on what you shouldn’t do in this situation, including trying to minimize the attack. Their anxiety or panic is real, even if you don’t understand their reaction to reality. Be compassionate and empathetic instead of being judgmental or trying to blame them for the attack. Don’t try to shield them from their triggers or concerns because they’ll be better off learning to live with these challenges in the long run. And don’t tell someone with a panic attack that they should stop worrying or just calm down — it won’t work, and it might make them feel even worse.

 

How Do You Explain What an Anxiety Attack Feels Like?

As mentioned earlier, “anxiety attack” isn’t a medical term. Still, it is a commonly used way of referring to especially elevated periods of worry or unease that people with an anxiety disorder might experience. So, what does it feel like? Often, people in this state will feel on edge for long periods of time, according to WebMD. They can feel stressed out, excessively worried, or tired and unable to sleep properly. They’ll also likely find it difficult or even impossible to concentrate, remember new things, or feel at ease. The general idea is that an anxiety attack will look and feel like extreme anxiety — and anyone who has lived with an anxiety disorder knows just how disruptive and unpleasant that can be.

 

 

What Is the Difference Between an Anxiety Attack and a Panic Attack?

Remember that an anxiety attack isn’t a medical term but instead an informal way of talking about someone feeling especially anxious for days or weeks at a time. This state usually comes up due to certain triggers that could build up gradually, such as a stressful time of change at work, new responsibilities or concerns at home, or struggles with relationships. According to the Cleveland Clinic, physical symptoms are possible but are usually milder, such as an elevated heartbeat or stomach pains. If you’re struggling to answer how to help someone with anxiety disorder, learning about this mental health condition and providing empathetic, compassionate support to your loved one can make a big difference while they’re suffering an anxiety attack.

A panic attack, on the other hand, is much more intense and shorter than an anxiety attack. When someone has a panic attack, it can feel like it’s coming out of nowhere. They can suffer strong physical side effects, like difficulty breathing and the sensation of a racing heart, and they might feel like they’re dying or actively having a heart attack, with scary sensations like chest pain, hyperventilation, trembling, chills, or sweating. Panic attacks can make people feel like they’re choking or being smothered, and many people will describe these experiences as terrifying. Because their brain kicks into the fight-or-flight mode, they can go from completely normal to panicking almost instantly, and they could feel this way for as long as an hour (though most panic attacks dissipate after less than 20 minutes). 

 

What Are Silent Panic Attacks?

A silent panic attack just means that other people can’t see the anxiety symptoms. While the person might look completely normal, they could feel frantic or terrified. Just because this kind of panic attack is invisible to others doesn’t mean it’s any less frightening and upsetting to the person who is suffering from it. Physical symptoms are still possible that aren’t obvious on the outside. The person could feel lightheaded or nauseous in addition to experiencing mental terror or dread.

 

Help Someone with Anxiety Disorder by Calling WhiteSands Treatment

So, how do you help someone with an anxiety disorder? Be there for them. Help them know that you’re supporting them, that you understand how they’re feeling, and that you will do your best to help them get through scary experiences like anxiety attacks or panic attacks. But there’s another way you can help that could provide life-changing assistance to your friend or loved one: Encourage them to get professional help. Several medications and therapy types have been proven to effectively help people get anxiety disorders under control while learning new coping skills that can be beneficial for getting through future periods of stress or worry. 

If you also see signs of substance abuse struggles in your friend, such as worsening anxiety after drinking alcohol or a habit of trying to self-medicate to soothe symptoms with drugs, it’s important to encourage them to seek help at an addiction treatment center. WhiteSands Treatment’s network of rehabs across Florida offers comprehensive, effective dual-diagnosis treatment that can help people address and overcome their struggles with mental health and addiction. With this simultaneous treatment plan, people can deal with these intertwined and complicated conditions and get the best chance for lasting recovery. We’ve helped many people overcome anxiety struggles while putting drugs and alcohol in the past, and we can help your loved one, too. Call us today at 877-855-3470 to learn more about what we can do.

 

External Sources

• National Institute of Mental Health — Any Anxiety Disorder
• WebMD — How to Help Someone Who’s Having a Panic Attack
• WebMD — Anxiety and Panic
• Cleveland Clinic — Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder

 

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.