Anxiety interferes with almost all aspects of one’s life. It physically, emotionally, and psychologically affects a person, and it also has an effect on building relationships and performing in work and school. Having anxiety makes building relationships tricky, and it further gets more challenging in maintaining them.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, about 40 million individuals in the United States endure anxiety disorders per year. There are various types of anxiety, from general anxiety disorder (GAD) to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Though different, most of these conditions negatively affect relationships.
Some people with anxiety who are committed to relationships may act overly dependent on their partners, while some feel insecure and keep themselves isolated and cold. These are just a few symptoms that can create strains in relationships.
Some individuals ignore the occurrences of stress and anxiety by simply letting intimate connections go awry. While others seek help and treatment by consulting psychologists and counselors.
Therapists are medically trained to assess and treat any anxiety disorder. They conduct psychological testing to understand how a person views and deals with stress. Coping with anxiety can be made easier with their help, and you and your partner can also do couples counseling to save your relationship.
To understand these more, here are ways on how to deal with anxiety in building relationships through counseling:
Undergo Therapies To Treat Anxiety
Seeking a psychologist’s help lets an individual with anxiety undergo specific therapies for treatments. Most counseling clinics, like Well Beings Counseling, offer therapies and procedures that are scientifically and medically based.
The most common therapy used by counseling clinics is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which involves the process of being more aware and mindful of alleviating stress and anxiety. Patients are trained to have a better thought process and exert some effort to have positive thinking about how they perceive themselves. This works by enabling them to understand and transform anxiety.
Other forms of treatment are also performed, such as lifespan integration therapy, biofeedback, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and Hakomi experiential therapy. After your assessment, you can always talk to your psychotherapist and discuss the best treatment for you.
Understand What Relationship Anxiety Is
Not everyone can understand what an individual with anxiety is going through. Also, not all patients can easily accept that they have a psychological disorder. If you think you’re feeling extremely anxious, stressed, and depressed, it’s always best to consult a professional to assess your situation and give appropriate treatment properly.
Relationship anxiety manifests in a lot of ways. It may start with you questioning whether your partner values you or not, and if you matter. Another sign is the constant thought that your partner will leave and break up with you. Also, relationship anxiety shows when you think that your partner doesn’t reciprocate the feelings you have for them, and when you overthink every action they do and every word they say, that can sometimes lead to fights.
Attending anxiety counseling can help you understand these signs, what causes them, and how both of you can make some changes to lessen and cope with anxiety. Therapists can also give you prescribed medications that can help in reducing symptoms of anxiety, like shortness of breath, fatigue, hyperventilation, insomnia, and increased heart rate.
Communicate Without Judgment And Anger
Counseling allows you and your partner to discuss your relationship issues without any nasty and loud arguments. Talking will let both of you see things from each other’s perspective with the guidance of a counselor who can also act as a neutral party and mediator between the two of you. A psychotherapist is someone who you can confide your past issues in, as they’re bound to keep therapist-patient confidentiality.
Couple therapy also allows your partner to guide and help you towards better coping techniques. Having someone by your side can make therapy and treatments easier and manageable. Your partners would also be knowledgeable about the things that they can do when their partners experience panic attacks.
Conclusion
When you’re in a relationship and are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, it’s better to acknowledge the problem than avoiding the truth. If love has been established in your relationship, accepting is the best way to deal with this issue.
Keep in mind that lashing out and acting out your stress will never bring a positive result and will never help your relationship. Establishing trust with people who have anxiety is a challenging process, and it’s a road you must take to make your relationship healthy.
