11 Things You Should Never Say To Someone Who Has Anxiety
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

11 Things You Should Never Say To Someone Who Has Anxiety

Let's face it, everyone gets nervous about at least one thing every day. But there is a difference between getting nervous and having anxiety.

530
11 Things You Should Never Say To Someone Who Has Anxiety
Ihor Malytskyi

Let's face it, everyone gets nervous about at least one thing every day. But there is a difference between getting nervous and having anxiety. Anxiety is a disorder that can form from a traumatic experience, be passed down from generation to generation, or from within a person naturally. There are many different types of anxiety, including social anxiety and panic disorders. This is a generalized list of the top eleven things you should never say to someone with any type of anxiety.

1. "Calm down."

I'm sorry, but telling someone to calm down when they are experiencing a panic attack is not good advice. This causes more stress and even some anger because depending on what is being stressed over, it can feel nearly impossible to just 'calm down'.

2. "I'm stressed out too."

We get that everyone is stressed about something, but telling someone who is visibly upset and can barely function with their anxiety that you are also "stressed out" really doesn't help the situation.

3. "We have to talk... but I'm busy so I'll talk to you later."

Hearing this from a good friend, partner, or parent is probably the most terrifying line to ever be said. What could they want to talk about? Did I do something wrong? Do they hate me? If you're going to talk to someone about something, don't push it off until later. That anxiety will build up and it's a dark place in their minds when it does.

4. "You should try to be more positive."

Trust me, being positive is a lot harder than you think when your mind just keeps thinking of everything that could possibly go wrong when faced with a new situation. Just be encouraging and let them go at their own pace.

5. "I know exactly how you feel."

Anxiety and panic attacks are different for everybody. Some people have social anxiety, or anxiety caused by stress and fear. No one disorder is exactly the same as another, so it's very unlikely you know exactly how they're feeling at that moment.

6. "Life's too short to stress."

This causes even MORE anxiety because now you have just reminded them of how short their life really is and this just leads to a thousand other thoughts for them to worry about. How short is it? I'm wasting my life. There's nothing I can do. Just, don't say that.

7. "It's just all in your head."

Yes, it is very much so in their heads, which is essentially the problem.

8. "Just let it go."

Letting things go becomes a lot harder for someone with anxiety. They keep thinking of all the possible outcomes of just letting things go, which, depending on what they're thinking about, could lead to another panic attack.

9. "Things could be a lot worse."

Oh, they know. They've probably already thought of a thousand different ways things could get even worse.

10. "I've already told you this."

It's hard to assure yourself of something when you have anxiety. The possibility that you're forgetting something important eats you from the inside out. So don't get too strained when they have to ask you something repeatedly in an attempt to relax their mind.

11. "Have you tried yoga?"

For some individuals, yoga can help calm the mind and relax your thoughts. For some, yoga just allows time to be in a completely silent room with nothing but your thoughts. Did I forget to do a huge assignment due tomorrow? Did I leave the door unlocked? I could be studying for that test I have next week. Yoga may help some, but like stated above, everyone is different and they should be encouraged to use whatever techniques they can that is beneficial to them.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71561
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133529
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments