Anxiety is something everyone knows about. You don’t need to be a typical, normally developed person to know what it means. Everyday can present anxiety, in various ways. It can be social anxiety, anxiety about work, school and much more. If I wanted someone to know where I’m at when I’m experiencing anxiety, I would point them here and tell them to read about the three things I’d like them to know when I’m experiencing anxiety.

1. When I’m anxious, be sure to be careful when dealing with me

I don’t want to say that dealing with me is like dealing with a time bomb, because that would be false. What I would say about dealing with me however is that there are certain things that should be done and things that should be avoided. For example, speaking to me using various tones to try and get a message across does not work all too well. Various tones can result in me not knowing how to properly convey my messages, which would ultimately make me more anxious. What would work for me though, is if you were to speak to me using a calm and singular tone. Being able to engage in a conversation without a change of tone can allow me to focus in on the root of the anxiety and discuss solutions to it.

2. When I’m anxious, I have a hard time focusing on the solution

If I’m anxious, I’m strictly focused on the root of my anxiety. The anxiety manifests within me and as a result, I find myself thinking more about the root of my anxiety than the solution. That’s why it’s important for me to be told to take focus off the anxiety itself and focus on ways to resolve the root of my anxiety. When I get anxious, I think of all the bad things that could happen. Having a different voice that projects something opposite to my what my mind is focused on helps me look at the big picture and realize there’s more than one way to think about this anxiety-ridden problem. It doesn’t have to be a solution – it just needs to be a train of thought that can open my eyes to the entire picture.

3. When I’m anxious, I want support

People who know me know that I’m a very emotional man. I’m very sensitive and should there be a time when anxiety gets the best of me, I look for support. Perhaps more than anything, I want people to know that I want emotional support when I’m anxious. It’s comforting to know that I have people who are there to reassure me things will be okay and if they aren’t, they’re there for me to work on solutions and alternative strategies. The emotional support I receive allows me to understand that you do care about how I feel and want me to feel better at the moment and in the future.

As I mentioned, anxiety is something everyone knows about. Whether you are a parent, a friend or a loved one, understand that you can help individuals quell their anxiety. Anxiety isn’t something that can always be solved by yourself. Having someone who understands how to approach these situations, as well as being able to provide positive support is crucial.