How to help someone with anxiety: 5 ways you can offer support

According to Health Direct, knowing how to support someone experiencing anxiety can be challenging.

Whether it's noticing anxiety symptoms in a family member, observing signs of social anxiety or phobia in a friend, or seeing a colleague experience regular panic attacks, it can be hard to know what to do or say.

When someone close to you is living with anxiety, simply being there during tough times can be the best way to help.

However, if you're looking to provide extra support, here are our top five recommendations.

Understand anxiety disorders and recognise symptoms

According to Mind, one of the best ways to help someone with anxiety is by gaining a better understanding of what they may be experiencing. Educating yourself on the mental and physical symptoms they could be facing is key.

Anxiety disorders come in many forms and are experienced uniquely by each person. This means what is helpful may vary between individuals.

As Beyond Blue explains, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias are all different types of anxiety disorders, each presenting unique symptoms and challenges.

Learning about the symptoms your loved one may be going through can help you offer the best support.

You can explore these different anxiety disorders in our blog, What is anxiety? A comprehensive overview.

Offer practical help

Beyond emotional support, providing practical help can be beneficial for someone living with anxiety.

This could involve assisting them with tasks that may seem overwhelming when they’re going through a particularly hard time.

For example, if social situations trigger their anxiety, offer to accompany them to events or run errands together.

Sometimes, even offering to take on a responsibility, like picking up groceries, can lighten their load.

Offering practical help reinforces that the person living with anxiety is not alone and that you are there for them. If they don’t accept your help, that’s okay too; respecting their wishes is important. Simply offering assistance can make a huge difference.

Encourage seeking professional help

If anxiety seems to be impacting someone’s daily life, encouraging them to seek help from a mental health professional is important.

This can look different for each person, depending on where they are on their journey.

According to Better Health Channel, it might involve a gentle reminder that support is available, or you could offer to help them research what option might be best for them.

Professional help can include psychotherapy, behaviour therapy (including online therapy), medication, lifestyle changes, self-care coping strategies, or even employment support.

Encouraging your loved one to seek help doesn’t imply they can’t handle their challenges on their own. It validates their experiences and acknowledges that it's okay to ask for support.

Do an activity together

Sometimes, the best way to support someone living with anxiety is to simply offer to do something you both enjoy together.

This can encourage a positive mindset and foster hope that things could get better, while also reminding your loved one that you are there for them.

According to Head To Health, engaging in an activity they enjoy can also help take their mind off things for a while and encourage them to live in the present moment.

It can be hard to know how to provide the right support for someone living with anxiety.

You may worry about saying the wrong thing, but at the end of the day, just being there, educating yourself, and gently encouraging them to seek professional help is often the best support.

Remember, if you or someone else ever needs immediate help, don’t hesitate to call 000.

To learn more about anxiety disorders, visit our blog Living with anxiety: symptoms, treatment, coping strategies, employment, and supports.

Resources and further reading

• Anxiety: symptoms, treatment and causes - Health Direct
• Anxiety disorders - Better Health Channel
• Anxiety disorders: causes, types, symptoms and treatments - Healthline
• Anxiety help and support - Black Dog Institute
• Helping someone with anxiety and panic attacks - Mind
• How to help someone with anxiety and depression - Beyond Blue
• Anxiety information for friends and family - Lifeline Support Toolkit

About this article

APM supports people with disability, injury, or a health condition through various programs and services across its businesses, including Disability Employment Services in Australia.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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