When you suffer from anxiety, there are a lot of negative thoughts that can run through your head on a daily basis that make life very difficult. It’s common for many women to experience anxiety and stress, and especially to experience these in silence.
Anxiety disorders can range from a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is intense worrying that you can’t control, to panic disorder, which is defined by sudden episodes of fear, along with heart palpitations, trembling, shaking, or sweating. While each anxiety disorder is different, it’s important to find ways to recognize and manage one’s anxiety to live a fulfilling, healthy life. To do this, it’s helpful to have loved ones that support you amid disorienting anxiety attacks. Here are seven sentences women who silently struggle with anxiety need to hear.
“This will pass”
When you experience an anxiety attack, it can feel like the world is falling apart and that the feeling will never end. However, it will end, and it’s helpful to have someone remind a loved one of this simple fact when they seem unable to move past this feeling.
“Remember what you are grateful for”
In moments of high stress and anxiety, it can seem like nothing can improve the situation. Taking a moment to appreciate your good health, loving family, or stable job can create a positive thought pattern to negate anxiety-inducing feelings. The brain can’t experience stress and gratitude at the same time, so it’s an effective way to change one’s mindset.
“Be here now”
Similar to realizing that the moment will pass, another helpful suggestion is to think about the moment rather than stressing out about all your worries and regrets from past and future situations. Redirecting one’s thoughts to a calm and stable state rather than getting lost in rumination may help quell future anxiety attacks.
“Surrender and let go”
While this might not sound like a helpful expression when your loved one is escalating in anxiety, it can be beneficial in that it helps someone stressing about a lack of control to release this tension. Accepting that bad things happen and giving yourself up to the course of the day will ease the anxiety of things you cannot control.
“You can do it”
When one feels a lack of control, they feel powerless compared to the insurmountable wave of anxiety washing over them. A pep talk from a loved one with these comforting words can make a difference when things seem to be spiraling out of control and too difficult to overcome.
“You have enough. You are enough.”
The trigger for an anxiety episode might stem from feeling inadequate and not having the resources to deal with high demands. When people are constantly told they are not good enough, it helps to have a friend remind them that this is not true.
“You are loving”
Repeating this or subbing out “loving” for any word that you feel describes your friend when they’re being their best self can make a difference in deterring future feelings of anxiety. These values and feelings can help guide the start to the day so that your friend can react in a way they’re proud of from the beginning.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/ways-to-reduce-anxiety
https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/phrases-to-calm-anxiety/
https://www.psycom.net/5-phrases-to-help-someone-with-depression
This article is for informative purposes only. Your experience may be different, so follow what you know.
