We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. To reduce dating anxiety, people can examine the root causes of the condition and make positive changes to overcome them. Below are some tips a person may use to manage their dating anxiety.
Kevin Gilliland, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and executive director of Innovation360. They are very indecisive and the smallest of choices, such as which restaurant, could put them off their appetite and even their entire upswing for the day. They aren’t acting this way to be childish or to get attention, they just have a condition and they need to deal with it so they can move on with their days. If this person needs you, you know you need to be there. Even if it’s just a text back, this person needs to know you’re around to talk him or her down.
Yes, anxiety can ruin a relationship if proper care is not taken. It is easy to mistake some symptoms as an attack on you or your personality. The ups and downs of a relationship can also trigger somebody suffering from the disorder. Dating with anxiety can be so overwhelming that ending it altogether may seem like the better choice for their health. A lot of things that fuel anxiety may be irrational, but they are not always baseless.
Be open and share
No doubt, you can’t completely understand how your partner feels or what they are going through because even they don’t. You can, however, learn how to be their support system by putting in the work. If your partner suffers from anxiety, I’ll also advise you to digest all there https://datingrated.com/ is to know about the condition. The saying “ignorance is bliss” can be true in some cases, but it’s not a philosophy you should adopt if you’re around a person with an anxiety disorder. When they share their issues never judge or laugh at them for feeling the way they are.
Most just chalk it up to staying far away from bad energy, but it isn’t always the case. Work your hardest to accept this and not to challenge your partner when they allow themselves to be vulnerable enough to share these feelings with you. This is a mental health condition, not something that they made up, and when it is treated like make-believe, it only perpetuates the symptoms. “I’m anxious” or “I am too scared to go” and “I am afraid of” are not just catchphrases that people reach for to get out of doing things they do not want to do, and they call it anxiety. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to this brand of mental health, which can lead to a lot of doubt from people who do not experience anxiety. The double-edged sword here is that when you doubt your partner’s anxiety, it can both lead to your own anxiety and simultaneously make their anxiety worse.
Ask specifically about triggers.
Just because someone has anxiety doesn’t mean that they will be a “bad” partner. It simply means that they may worry more, and they may have physical effects because of it. If you have anxiety too, they may be an even better partner for you because you understand how each other feels.
If your parent or caregiver responded quickly to your needs and offered love and support, you probably developed a secure attachment style. But if you feel this way more often than not, you’re probably dealing with some relationship anxiety. A good relationship can make you feel loved, secure, and happy.
Another thing you need to understand when being in a relationship with someone who has anxiety is that there’s no quick “fix” or “cure” to the condition. While this may seem like a great way to reinforce your connection, this is not a healthy way of being in a relationship with someone who has anxiety. In cases when a lack of empathy isn’t the issue, you may fall into the trap of being too invested in your partner’s struggles, and you start being their therapist.
If they’re nervous about seeking treatment, suggest that they see their primary doctor first. For some people, a “regular” doctor is less intimidating than a mental health professional. Express that you care about them, and remind them that they shouldn’t feel ashamed for getting treatment. It’s something that can cause significant stress and discomfort, and in extreme cases possibly even cause panic attacks and feelings of low self-worth as a result of social situations. A person does not have to exhibit all of the below symptoms of anxiety for them to be feeling anxious or suffering badly from any anxiety disorders.
Ways To Cope With Dating Anxiety
Not everyone who has anxiety comes across as a “nervous” person. Some people who experience anxiety may even appear calm on the outside but experience their symptoms more internally. First, it can be helpful to know that anxiety is quite common, and almost all of us will experience an anxiety disorder at one point or another in our lives. If you find yourself dating someone who has anxiety, it’s understandable that you might have some concerns. Watching someone experience anxiety can be upsetting, and can even make you anxious or uneasy, whether or not you are prone to anxiety yourself. Note when they occur, whether anything seems to make them better or worse, and how much they affect your day-to-day activities and interactions.
If your partner doesn’t want to seek help, it’s important to respect their decision – you can’t force them into it. The best thing to do is continue to be supportive and understanding of their situation. Maybe your partner’s up for a big promotion and has been working 14-hour days? Or perhaps you’ve been dating a single parent whose child has just entered the terrible twos?