Anxiety can send you to a dark place where you feel alone, overwhelmed, or completely consumed with worry. Sending a text message to a friend with anxiety may not cure anxiety, but it can offer your friend relief or a bit of hope. When you send a non-judgment text message to a friend with anxiety, they will feel less alone every time they read it.
“Wow, That Sounds Really Stressful”
You may feel tempted to advise someone with anxiety to help them feel better. Unless you have anxiety or you are a licensed therapist, it is best to keep your advice to yourself. If your friend asks for your advice, validate what your friend is saying instead by listening, asking questions, and being curious. You can validate the stress or confusion your friend has been through, which will show that you have paid attention. Instead of trying to fix your friend’s situation, let them know you understand what they are going through.
“You Are Doing the Best You Can!”
If your friend is being hard on themselves, let them know that their anxiety can create challenges in life. Things that may be simple to other people like work, relationships, dating, or even running errands can be overwhelming to someone with anxiety. Your friend just needs a reminder that everything will be okay and they are only doing their best. This text message will let your friend know that they are trying, and you understand their struggles.
“Do You Need Help with Anything?”
It never hurts to offer a friend help when they clearly need it. Your friend may be telling you they feel stuck and are telling you why. For example, they could be telling you they have trouble cleaning the house when they are feeling anxious. It helps to be specific with your offers, like asking your friend if you would like them to help you clean. You can offer to come over, turn on some music, and chat while you are both cleaning.
You know your friend very well, so you should make sure the texts hit close to them instead of telling them general things like “everything will be okay.” When you text a friend with anxiety, offer help and support to show that you are here to be a good friend to them instead of trying to fix them.
Sending a text message to someone with anxiety is very important because you want to make sure what you write to them comes with compassion and understanding. You never want to give the impression like you are trying to fix them. Offer them support, your ear, and anyway you can help. At Alta Loma, we understand the struggles that come with anxiety and the importance of friendship. Located in Georgetown, Texas, we can offer you individualized therapy, medication management, coping skills education, therapeutic recreational activities, and more. Please give us a call at (866) 457-3843 for more information.
