Anxious Friends & Supportive Statements that go TOGETHER
Were you ever in a situation where you had to comfort your friend during their anxiety bouts – and didn’t know how to deal with it? We all have times like these. And honestly, most people don’t know how to comfort us.
The harsh truth is: we aren’t taught how to deal with mental health in school. And oftentimes, you may unintentionally say things that may cause further pain to your struggling friend.
But, never fear! I’m going to share some encouraging phrases that you can say to your struggling friend.
“You are more than your past mistakes”
Has your friend expressed signs of their trauma haunting them back?
When a friend’s under an anxiety spell, it can be difficult to pull them away from that state of mind. They may subconsciously disregard their growth and progress, and instead, revert to their past state of mind when they felt most awful about themselves. When this happens, remind your friend about the progress that they’ve gone through. Remind them that their value is not rooted in anything that they’ve failed to do, but their individuality and who they genuinely are.
“What you’re feeling right now is not silly. You can let it out.”
Has your friend ever brushed aside their feelings?
Your friend might make side comments about their situation – unaware that what they’re doing is detrimental in the long run. According to research conducted by the University of Texas, trying to build a wall around your feelings doesn’t make it go away, but it actually worsens it. Instead of letting dismissive statements slip by, you can take a more supportive stance by validating the turbulent emotions of your friend.
“Is there any way I can help?”
Does your friend tend to struggle by themselves?
Extending a helping hand may sound obvious, but offering an act of kindness is almost always appreciated. Even if they don’t ask you to do anything after the question, the act of simply extending charity will boost their mood. An act of kindness can go a long way – and pre-empting a question that shows your genuine concern for your friend will help them on a rainy day.
“I’ll be by your side. No matter what.”
Are you someone who’ll stick by your friend no matter the circumstances?
Even in the company of friends and family, an extremely socially anxious person can still feel lonely. By showing your unconditional positive regard verbally, you’ll make a socially anxious person feel a lot less alone in their heads. If the cause of anxiety is rooted in how they feel about their relationships, this simple supportive statement can relieve them. Also, it boosts their morale.
“Even if you don’t feel it, I’m very proud of you.”
Does your friend have a hard time feeling good about themselves? Once your socially anxious friend opens up to you and shares their feelings, never judge them negatively. Show empathy and be willing to listen to them. In the worst cases, the anxious person may still feel a pang of sadness and remorse about something in their past. In those cases, a simple lift-me-up phrase that’s related to the problem can give them a shot of happiness once again. Just be careful not to practice toxic positivity.
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Currently, I am a student of Fatima Jinnah Women University. With a burning passion for psychology, words, and dreams, I decided to abandon medical studies for humanities. These days, when I’m not listening to ballads, watching movies, or sitting down with a good novel, I am rigorously studying Hangul (Korean language) to satisfy my obsession for BTS and K dramas. I’m a thinking introvert and INFJ personality. Therefore, I like ‘me time’. My articles typically resonate with psychological well-being advice.
