Anxiety plagued 18.1% of all adults in the US. That’s 40 million. Have you ever suffered an anxiety attack? If your answer is ‘no,’ you will never understand the struggle anxious people go through every time they suffer an attack.

It’s hard to explain this, mostly because anxiety strikes when you least expect it. It’s common in people of every age group.

Anxiety makes you alienated and you often feel misunderstood. Those who have never experienced it will always make incorrect assumptions. If your partner suffers anxiety attacks really often, you’ll have to learn how to help them “survive.”

5 things to know if a loved one has anxiety attack

1. Anxiety affects them physically, mentally and emotionally

Anxiety affects much more than just your brain. It affects your emotional and physical level, too. It’s oftentimes a combination of several factors, including genetics, personality, environmental factors, diet and chemical imbalances in the brain.

An anxiety attack feels as if you are carrying a burden. It causes headaches, cold sweats, insomnia, muscle stiffness and other symptoms.

Mentally, anxiety attacks cause stress and strain. Your thoughts give you a feeling of fear. Talking to an anxious person will help you understand their condition much better.

2. Depression

Experts from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America explain that about one-half of people with anxiety also struggle with depression.

It’s like being torn between two people. Anxiety tells a person to get up and do things. Depression drags them down. It’s really hard to control both conditions. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, anxiety sometimes occurs as a symptom in depressed people.

3. Anxious people need to spend more time alone

Anxiety kills your desire to talk to others. It drains your energy. Anxious people don’t always like the idea of being stuck in the middle of a crowd. Try to understand that.

Sometimes even your company may become a burden. Give them their alone time, and they will recharge their batteries for tomorrow.

4. Anxiety is not weakness -- They still love you!

Anxious people are able to love their partner. They can sustain a relationship. They just need some time alone. That’s all. Mental disorders often occur as a result of being too strong for a long time.

Be there for your partner whenever they need someone to talk to. Open your heart and give them the support they need. If your partner seems distant, don’t worry. They’ll come back to you once they recharge their batteries.

5. Your partner is not a needy

There are people who say that anxious individuals seek attention. This is absolutely wrong. Anxiety is hard, and it has nothing to do with attention.

Anxious people need to be left alone. They don’t want someone to feel bad for them. The only thing they need is a good listener.

Anxiety is hard, and anxious people didn’t ask for it. It just happened. It’s a demon that comes and goes. Help them survive the attacks. If they ask you to leave them alone for a while, don’t get mad. Try to understand their condition without feeling sorry for them.

Sources:
www.healthline.com
www.powerofpositivity.com