How to Date someone with Anxiety Issues?

According to some surveys, approximately 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety disorders which are curable, but only a small percentage of people get their treatment done. The people with anxiety will not be open to new adventurous ideas because it causes stress and nervousness. Dating someone with anxiety would mean ditching plans that give them adrenaline rush or some risky date ideas because their partner would not be comfortable. They would not hang out with partner’s friends because conversing with new people is not their forte. People with anxiety stay constantly worried regarding their life and relationships. The fear of their life and relationships falling apart keep emerging in their mind. They will think that their relationship will crash down sometime soon which leads to a distance between the partners. 

The person with anxiety becomes suspicious, and they start doubting their partner’s faithfulness. This leads to a conflict in the relationship because the partner does not understand why they are being doubted. It becomes hard for the person to deal with such a situation. A lot of relationships end this way because the person with anxiety does not inform them about their anxiety issues and this is why they cannot handle their relationships well. There is no room for a healthy fight because they exaggerate a minor argument into something huge. They cannot maintain their emotions and keep cheerful conversations. The feeling of dread and apprehension keeps them awake all the time. Therefore, dating someone with anxiety needs extra care and focus. Let us know how to date someone with anxiety issues. 

How To Date Someone With Anxiety Issues

#1. Approve Their Anxiety 

Anxiety is related to the specific behaviors of fight-or-flight responses, defensive behavior or escape. People with anxiety try to escape stressful situations, or they defend themselves when they are blamed, but it is a normal response to stressors. People act in the same manner whenever they face some difficult situation that they cannot control. So, if you are dating someone with anxiety, then you should support the person. They need validation and if you approve of them, then they will be able to control their anxiety. Allow them to be anxious in front of you so that they can build stronger trust on you. Anxiety sometimes becomes an embarrassing feeling for the person and that is why they need to be comfortable with you. To be able to open up and share their feelings and views about something is a big deal for them so try not to judge them. Lend your ears to listen to what they have to say and what they feel.

#2. Research About Anxiety Coping Mechanisms

Dating someone with anxiety issues would mean that you have to be extra careful. If your date has an anxiety disorder, then you must know that there are various kinds of anxiety disorders. There are a number of anxiety disorders: including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder and so on. You must understand what type of disorder is your partner suffering from and then collect information about the same. The symptoms, signs, and causes about the same and the treatment for the disorder. If you wish to help your partner then you should study regarding anxiety coping mechanisms so that they are not bothered by you any day. Maybe you can help them overcome the anxiety and lead a normal life. Gradually you will start understanding their actions and the reasons behind them.

#3. Control Instinctive Reaction To Anxiety

You may get into a fight with your partner and they may say something outrageous which can hurt you, but you should keep your calm. If you lose your control, then you will end up saying something that might hurt them and this will hamper the relationship. Even in normal relationships, aggression becomes one huge reason for the rift between the partners. Your partner will panic because their capacity to hold their anxiety under control is less than yours. You need to stay quiet so that you can handle them better. The date with anxiety issues can overreact so if you hold your thoughts no matter how logical they may be then you will be able to have the upper hand at the moment. Later, when you think about the situation, you will realize that you did the best by keeping your reactions to yourself.

#4. Give Up On Expectations

Dating comes with a lot of expectations and romance but dating someone with anxiety comes with impulsive decisions and cancellation of plans. Do not expect much from your date who has anxiety issues because they may not be able to fulfill all your wishes. They struggle with themselves so much that they cannot think about making you feel special. They will be stuck in the thoughts of losing you rather than thinking about how to keep you. They may not be open to ideas to experimenting in the relationship because it would make them anxious. Give up on your unrealistic expectations.

#5. Set Restrictions

It is important that you set boundaries in your relationship. You may be dating someone with anxiety, but that does not necessarily mean that you will have to compromise all the time in the relationship. Once you understand how they react to different situations, then you can ask them to control their reactions. Like if they say hurtful things in anger, then you can ask them to manage their anger because you will not bear disrespect no matter what happens. They must respect you for being by their side. No illness permits to hurt or be cruel to someone.

#6. Suggest Psychological Help

If you feel; that your date is unable to cope with their anxiety issues, then you should suggest them to take psychological help. Psychologists prescribe medicines along with sessions to help them deal with their anxiety. No matter how much you try to communicate about their illness, you cannot treat them. They will need professional help so consider taking counseling sessions, and if you enter into a long-term relationship with them, then you can try couple counseling. The counseling helps you deal with their anxiety and help them deal with it.

#7. Acknowledge Their Efforts

Dating someone with anxiety will turn effortless after some time. When they begin the counseling or controlling their anxiety on their own, you will find things easing out. Appreciate your partner for trying to change the way they lived. It is very difficult for people suffering from illness and disorders to get rid of their suffering and initiate a new life. Acknowledge the fact that they want a transition in their life. Support them as much as you can.

Are you dating someone with anxiety issues? How do you deal with the situation? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below.

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