Supporting your teen or young adult with anxiety

Being a family member or friend of someone dealing with anxiety or an anxiety disorder can be tricky. We can run into a host of complexities and challenges. However, your support in someone’s life could be a crucial part of their overall well-being. The following are a few ways parents and caregivers can give their support, as well as some considerations of when seeking out family therapy could be an appropriate option.

1. Open, non-judgmental communication

   • When there is an open and safe environment where feelings can be comfortably discussed, we see a dramatic improvement in overal symptomology and mental health as a whole.

   • When this loved one wants to talk, it can be more helpful to listen without judgment rather than attempting to problem solve and find solutions. Avoiding a jump to conclusions can also create a healthier environment for communication.

2. Education

   • Take time to learn about the specific symptoms your loved one is having. What does anxiety look like in their body? In their emotions? In their thoughts? What are signs to look for to see that they may be anxious, overwhelmed, or flooded? Everyone is unique and it is rare for someone’s sympotomology to look exactly like someone else’s. Be open to learning about your loved one and how anxiety affects them specifically.

3. Encouragement of healthy habits

   • Help to promote a balanced lifestyle that includes regular movement, eating nutritious foods, and getting adequate sleep, as able. Make yourself aware of any limitations this individual may be facing financially or physically that could prevent any of the above.

   • Encourage seeking out hobbies that reduce stress and open a creative outlet. Some can include mindfulness meditation, yoga, drawing and coloring, or writing.

4. Seeking out help

   • If the anxiety is impacting your loved one’s life significantly, impacting the ability to live life as normal, it is time to seek help from a professional such as a therapist or psychiatrist to explore treatment options.

   • There are times medication may be useful, for a set amount of time, to get one’s head above water, so underlying issues can be processed. In this case, it should always be under the monitoring of a mental health professional to avoid misuse.

5. Patience

   • Recovery from the damage anxiety can cause is a process that takes time and patience. Being a supporter of someone that is experiencing treatment requires an understanding that patience and ongoing presence is needed.

6. Limiting stressors for the client

   • Helping to limit the stressors that are affecting your loved one’s anxiety could be useful. This can be particularly true in a caretaker’s case. Is your child’s schedule packed full with academics and extracurriculars? Explore ways to support what they want to do without having them signed up for everything, overloading their schedule.

7. Avoiding avoidance

   • Encouraging your loved one to face their fears in a gradual exposure, rather than avoiding them altogether, can be incredibly helpful. It helps them build resilience, the building block for strong mental health.

8. Modeling healthy coping skills

   • This will require for YOU to be regulated as well. Support yourself in all the above ways and model those for your loves one. Your example could be the changing force in them getting healthy.

When to consider family therapy

When anxiety is affecting the dynamic of the family, it can be useful to seek out family therapy in addition to individual help for the main client. The following are situations that can be signs to seek out a family therapist.

1. Communication is breaking down

   • If the communication in the family or friendship is causing additiona strain or stress on the individual experiencing anxiety, family therapy can be useful in teaching healthy communication skills and promoting understanding.

2. Family history of anxiety disorders or other mental health issues

   • If there is any family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions within the family lineage, family therapy can be helpful as a proactive approach to teach the family how to support each other.

3. The client is resisting treatment

   • If individual therapy is not showing to be successful for the client, having family therapy can create an alternative approach to functional treatment.

4. In periods of transition

   • Any family transitions, such as divorce, loss, or relocation, can create additional anxiety that could be better navigated in a family therapy setting in order to create a sense of togetherness.

In summary, you can support your loved one experiencing anxiety by creating space for open communication, educating yourself, encouraging healthy living, seeking help from a professional when needed, and, perhaps most importantly, being patient with the process. Family therapy may also be an appropriate option when individual therapy is not doing the trick, or the family dynamics are affecting the condition of the anxiety.

If you need help navigating a situation like this, therapyxhalle can be of assistance! Whether it is referring someone you love for treatment, or having a conversation to discover family therapy options, start by requesting an appointment.