{"id":17958,"date":"2023-02-28T05:08:04","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T13:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datemixstaging.wpengine.com\/?p=17958"},"modified":"2023-02-28T05:36:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T13:36:26","slug":"dating-someone-with-anxiety-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/dating-someone-with-anxiety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Dating Someone With Anxiety: Everything You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Around 19% of US adults have an anxiety disorder.<\/a> That\u2019s about 40 million people. This means that \u2014 at one point or another \u2014 you may well find yourself dating someone with anxiety. So what should you expect, and how can you help?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like any mental illness, anxiety can have challenging side effects if it\u2019s not being acknowledged or treated in some manner. But, that certainly doesn\u2019t mean that people with anxiety can\u2019t have meaningful, good relationships<\/a>. Let\u2019s take a detailed dive into the topic of dating an anxious person including, how to date someone with anxiety, the different types to look out for, tips and advice, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Things First: Learning About Anxiety Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We all experience anxiety at some point in our lives. Whether it\u2019s trying to cope with those first date nerves<\/a> or the dreaded feeling of speaking in front of a big group of people, feeling anxious is a normal reaction to stressful situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, anxiety disorders tend to differ from these normal feelings of nervousness. One of the best ways you can offer support when dating someone with anxiety is to ensure you have a good understanding of what anxiety disorders are and the common types to look out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are anxiety disorders?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anxiety disorders are a type of mental health condition<\/a>, typically characterized by significant and overwhelming feelings of nervousness and fear that make it difficult to get through the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to keep in mind that anxiety disorders are pretty common \u2014\u00a0it\u2019s estimated that 31.1% of U.S. adults experience an anxiety disorder at some time in their lives<\/a>. Experiencing this doesn\u2019t make you a less attractive dater, nor does it mean that you can\u2019t form a real, meaningful relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types and symptoms of anxiety disorders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anxiety presents itself in different ways for different people. This means that a big part of knowing how to date someone with anxiety is being aware of the common types and symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common types of anxiety disorders<\/strong> are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Generalized anxiety disorder<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Social anxiety disorder<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Panic order<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Phobias<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Separation anxiety disorder<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Agoraphobia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the common symptoms of anxiety disorders<\/strong> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Rapid heart rate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Sweating<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Trembling or shaking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Feeling of shortness of breath<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Chest pains<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Nausea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Numbness or tingling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Chills or hot flashes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Feeling detached<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 <\/strong>Fear of losing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anxiety disorders don\u2019t have the same social stigma as they once did. This means that people are talking about them a lot more and there\u2019s tons of information out there to help daters who\u2019re feeling anxious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find more in-depth information on the types and symptoms of anxiety disorders in the American Psychiatric Association\u2019s detailed guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing How to Date Someone With Anxiety: 7 Tips to Keep In Mind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dating an anxious person can be challenging at times. But, there are plenty of great ways to support a partner and ensure that you both enjoy a lasting, meaningful relationship. Below, we\u2019ve outlined seven tips for dating someone with anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Don\u2019t treat it as anything other than a normal relationship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dating someone with anxiety doesn\u2019t necessarily mean your relationship will be harder than any other. All relationships have challenges and maybe this will be one of yours. It\u2019s important to separate your partner from their disorder and remember that you\u2019re dating a person, not an illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always remembering that your partner is so much more than their anxiety will help to ensure that you approach things as caringly and compassionately as possible, in turn helping your partner to feel supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Remember it\u2019s not always the same for everyone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t make a difference if you\u2019re dating a man with anxiety or dating a woman with anxiety \u2013 people are individuals. That means one person with anxiety won\u2019t necessarily act like or have the same needs as the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to your partner. Don\u2019t brush aside their needs because you think it\u2019s just their anxiety flaring up. Everybody is different, and these things can manifest themselves in different ways. For some people, symptoms can be physical. For others, it may be racing thoughts and feelings of disassociation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Understand it\u2019s different from having a stressed-out partner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maybe your partner\u2019s up for a big promotion and has been working 14-hour days? Or perhaps you\u2019ve been dating a single parent<\/a> whose child has just entered the terrible twos? These can be stressful situations, no doubt. But dating an anxious person is not the same as dating someone who\u2019s stressed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, stress can make anxiety way worse. But people with an anxiety disorder often feel anxious even when they can\u2019t pinpoint why<\/em> they\u2019re anxious. Trying to tell your partner how to handle their stress level isn\u2019t really going to help. In fact, it\u2019s probably just going to hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Learn what makes their anxiety worse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Two individuals may react differently to the same stimulus. To help your partner, sit down together and talk about their experience with anxiety, including what sets it off, what makes it worse, and what helps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This way, you’ll be better equipped to help them settle down when they experience a spike in their anxiety levels. It\u2019s far better to prepare in advance than to learn on the fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Encourage them to seek help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best way to treat any anxiety disorder is to seek professional help. Common, effective treatments include therapy and anxiety medications<\/a>. Depending on the individual, undertaking one, or a combination of, these treatments is a great way to help them to cope with their situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Keep in mind that you can\u2019t force them to get help if they don\u2019t want it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unless you\u2019re a licensed psychiatrist, the most you can do for your partner is encourage them to get help and offer your support while they do. If your partner doesn\u2019t want to seek help, it\u2019s important to respect their decision – you can\u2019t force them into it. The best thing to do is continue to be supportive and understanding of their situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Don\u2019t forget to take care of yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Being in a relationship with someone who has anxiety can be a challenge at times. While it\u2019s undoubtedly hardest for the individual suffering from anxiety, it\u2019s not easy for their partner either. This means that taking the time to look after yourself and practice self-care and self-love<\/a> is more important than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dating Someone With Anxiety: Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to knowing how to date someone with anxiety, being able to handle potentially difficult situations is key. A big part of this is knowing what to say and what not to say. Below, we\u2019ve outlined some examples of both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to do and say<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes down to it, the things you do and say will play a big role in helping your partner to manage their anxiety. Here are some ideas and phrases that can work effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Always listen:<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m here and I\u2019m ready to listen to you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Acknowledge their anxiety: <\/strong>\u201cI know that things feel overwhelming for you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Recognize what they\u2019re dealing with:<\/strong> \u201cI understand that\u2019s a lot for you to handle right now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Reassure them: <\/strong>\u201cEverything\u2019s going to be OK.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Comfort them: <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m here for whatever you need.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Acknowledge their progress on anxiety issues:<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m so proud of you for the strength you\u2019ve shown.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Offer support:<\/strong> \u201cIs there anything I can do to help?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things not to do and say<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since the things you do and say can have a big impact on how your partner manages their anxiety, it\u2019s also worthwhile keeping in mind the things to avoid. We\u2019ve laid out some of these below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Criticize them for feeling anxious:<\/strong> \u201cWhy are you always freaking out all the time?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Be dismissive of how they\u2019re feeling: <\/strong>\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Get angry or aggressive:<\/strong> \u201cJust be quiet and calm down!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Take their behavior too personally:<\/strong> \u201cWhy are you always getting annoyed at me?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Try to be their therapist:<\/strong> \u201cIf I were you, I\u2019d just do this\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dating Someone With Anxiety: Create a Real, Meaningful Relationship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being in a relationship with someone who has anxiety can be genuinely special. Yes, it might come with a few extra challenges but that doesn\u2019t mean that you can\u2019t still form a meaningful connection with your partner. In fact, learning how to understand, support, and communicate effectively<\/a> while dating an anxious person can help to create an even stronger and deeper bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When dating someone with anxiety, always remain supportive and understanding and encourage your partner to seek professional help when you feel it\u2019s needed. With the right steps, the relationship will be truly joyful and long-lasting!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dating someone with anxiety doesn\u2019t necessarily make your relationship any harder than any other relationship. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":220,"featured_media":30236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[884],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dating-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDating Someone With Anxiety: Everything You Need To Know<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There\u2019s a lot of stigma about mental illness, so let\u2019s break down what it does and doesn\u2019t mean to be dating someone with anxiety.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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