SUPPORT: How can I help someone with anxiety and stress?

15th March, 2018    |    By  Project Rockit    |     2k

In Episode 7, Dani and Danielle dive into anxiety and stress with empathy and a tonne of ways to support a friend even if you don’t fully understand.

  1. What are some of the ways we could challenge any negative stigma around mental health?
  2. How would you feel most comfortable supporting someone who is dealing with stress or anxiety?
  3. What affects do you think having stress or anxiety would have on school? Want more resources like these?

Head to www.projectrockit.com.au/contact/ to stay in the loop! Produced by Momentum Studios Australia


Also check the related topics:  

Anxiety Stress Depression Helping a friend

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SUPPORT: How can I help someone with anxiety and stress?

 Anxiety and stress—not very fun words, are they? Not at all. They’re really important to talk about, though. So, in this video, we’re going to show you a bunch of ways that you can support a mate who’s experiencing stress or anxiety.

Stress is a response to a tough or high-pressure situation. Yeah, and anxiety is basically when those feelings of stress come out of nowhere or last long after a stressful situation is over.

So, imagine a bear is coming towards you right now. Okay, my palms are sweaty, knees weak, mom’s spaghetti—okay, but actually, your heart’s racing, and you’ve got, like, a tense feeling in your gut. Yeah, I actually get that way before I have a conversation with someone for the first time or meet new people.

Okay, now imagine the bear’s gone or the conversation’s over, but those feelings—they still remain. They’re still there. Yeah. Anxiety is basically having that emotional response to anything or situations that other people might not find stressful. Hmm.

So, now that we know a bit more about anxiety, let’s discuss how to help someone who’s experiencing it. Yes!

Firstly, don’t wait for them to come to you because opening up can be really difficult. If you notice that a mate is more down or stressed than normal, reach out to them and see how they’re going. Mm-hmm. These conversations can be a bit awkward sometimes, so just try your best to remain calm and supportive.

Yeah, you could say, “Hey mate, I noticed you’ve been a bit down at the moment. Is everything okay?” Sometimes, asking a time-specific question can help, like, “How are you going today?” instead of just, “How are you?” Because anxiety is a rollercoaster—how you are can fluctuate from day to day.

And even simply saying, “Hope you’re alright, I’m here if you want to chat,” can make a difference. You can’t force someone to open up, but letting them know you’re there for when they need it can be really helpful.

It’s important to listen and respond with empathy. Empathy is all about listening attentively and patiently to what they’ve got to say. It’s also about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and responding with compassion and support—and without judgment.

So, let’s break this down into helpful and unhelpful phrases.

Unhelpful:
“Well, it could be a lot worse.”
“So, you think you’re overreacting?”
“Cheer up. I’m sure it’ll pass.”

Helpful:
“That sounds really challenging for you.”
“You’re not alone.”
“I think opening up about this is a really great first step.”
“Hey, I’m here for you. How can I support you best?”

Also, it might be important to encourage action. Let them know it’s okay to seek further help, and they might need help doing this. Yes, so help them find someone they can talk to, or maybe seek out a mental health service that works for them. We’ve actually linked some in the description of this video.

And finally, check in—however you feel or as often as you think is necessary. Send them a message and just check in on them to see how they’re going. Let them know you’ve still got their back. Yeah, because for someone experiencing anxiety, having a friend that regularly checks in could make a world of difference.

Yes, so for anyone who is experiencing anxiety, I just want to say I’m so sorry. I know exactly what it’s like, and it sucks. But the good news is there are tons of ways to get support, and reaching out looks different for everyone. [Music]

Video by Project Rockit