Dating someone with anxiety can be challenging on your part, especially if you are not familiar with the disorder associated with this. Take note that the challenges come from the difficulty in understanding how the other person thinks, moves and reacts because of the presence of anxiety. However, this does not mean that the relationship will no longer work if the person you are dating has an anxiety disorder.
In this article, we are going to share some exciting ideas on how you can continue going out with a person who constantly has anxiety. Here are the top things to keep in mind:
Accept Your Partner’s Condition
The first step that you need to go through is to understand the fact that the other party’s mental condition will affect your relationship in so many ways. Do not take this against your partner because he has no control of what happens because of the anxiety disorder. Learn to have an open mind in accepting the reality about his condition. Acceptance is the initial step to making things right between the two of you.
“If you step back and get perspective, you can turn down the intensity of your emotional reactions, feel more gratitude, and move on to thinking about practical solutions for how you can minimize the impact of your differences,” Alice Boyes Ph.D. advised.
Communicate Clearly
A person who is suffering from an anxiety disorder can be difficult to deal with. You will have a hard time talking to him because he has his own set of beliefs and ideas. Most of the time, he will reject your suggestions or recommendations. As such, it is best to be clear in communicating with him. As much as possible, avoid text messages or electronic mails. According to experts, the best available remedy on your part is to discuss matters personally.
Help Your Loved One Become More Mindful
Fortunately, there are several activities that you can do together, which can help you in achieving mindfulness. Keep in mind that you cannot continue to insist that the other person must improve his mental wellness. You have to join him in the journey of handling his anxiety. Never give an impression that you are pressuring him to grow because it will only hurt you. At the same time, it can also make him feel bad if he cannot give in to your requests. “A surprising solution to all this stress and anxiety is compassion,” Diane Dreher Ph.D. says. “Cultivating compassion begins with mindful breathing.” Some of the activities that you can do together include yoga, meditation, and even jogging.
Know How To Listen
The fact that your partner or boyfriend has a disorder does not put you in a better pedestal than him. Do not forget to treat him as an equal. Otherwise, you can expect that the relationship will go down the drain. What you have to do is to be attentive to what he has to say. Make him feel that you are willing to listen to his words. As such, be sure to show him that he has your full attention whenever he is speaking. “By listening carefully when someone speaks, we’re telling them that we care about what they’re saying,” Diana Raab PhD wrote.
There is definitely no easy way to maintain a loving relationship with someone who has an anxiety disorder. Accept the challenges so that you will not have a hard time making the partnership work. Just follow the tricks and tips mentioned above, and you are good to go. Good luck!
