What Not To Say To Someone With Anxiety Buzzfeed

So, there I was, standing in line at the coffee shop, trying to decide between my usual latte and the new seasonal special, when I felt that familiar tightening in my chest. My heart started pounding, and my palms got sweaty. Anxiety, my old friend, had decided to join the party. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, when the barista looked at me and said, "You okay there? You look like you've seen a ghost." Thanks, buddy. Just what I needed.

That got me thinking, you know? How many times have we, as a society, said the wrong thing to someone struggling with anxiety? It's like we're all walking on eggshells, but we're also throwing firecrackers around. So, I thought I'd share some things you might want to avoid saying to someone with anxiety. Let's dive in, shall we?

1. "Calm down."

Oh, if it were that easy, right? Anxiety isn't a choice. It's not like we're having a tantrum because we didn't get our way. It's a real, physical response that we can't just switch off. So, instead of telling us to calm down, how about you sit with us, acknowledge our feelings, and maybe even offer a distraction?

2. "It's all in your head."

Well, yeah, that's kind of the point. Anxiety is a mental health condition. It's not a physical illness, but it's just as real. It's not something we can just 'think' our way out of. So, please, don't dismiss our feelings as mere figments of our imagination.

3. "You're overthinking."

Oh, the irony. You're telling someone who's drowning in a sea of thoughts to stop overthinking. Anxiety is overthinking on steroids. It's not something we can just turn off. It's a constant stream of 'what ifs' and 'what could go wrongs'. So, instead of pointing it out, maybe try to help us find a way to quiet that noise.

4. "You should..."

Oh, the dreaded 'should'. You should exercise more. You should meditate. You should eat better. Newsflash: we know what we should do. We're not avoiding these things because we don't know they exist. We're avoiding them because our anxiety is telling us we can't do them. So, instead of telling us what we should do, maybe ask us what we need.

Things You Shouldn’t Say To A Person With Anxiety

5. "I had a bad day too, you know."

I get it. You're trying to relate. But anxiety isn't about having a bad day. It's about having a bad day every day. It's about waking up and feeling like you're already behind. It's about feeling like you're constantly fighting a battle that no one else can see. So, instead of comparing, maybe just listen.

So, there you have it. Five things to avoid saying to someone with anxiety. It's not about being perfect, it's about being present. It's about acknowledging our feelings, not dismissing them. It's about being a friend, not a judge. And who knows, you might just make our day a little bit brighter.

And me? I ended up ordering the seasonal special. It was delicious. Anxiety and all.