Anxiety is a prevalent mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by extreme worry, fear, and unease about everyday situations and experiences.

People with anxiety often struggle with social interactions, making communication with them a challenge. There are certain things you should avoid saying to someone with anxiety, as it can worsen their symptoms and trigger an anxiety attack.

1. “Just calm down.”

Telling someone with anxiety to calm down is not helpful. Anxiety isn’t something they can control by merely calming down, and it is dismissive of their feelings.

Instead, try acknowledging their feelings and offer support instead of invalidating their experience.

2. “You worry too much”

Anxiety stems from excessive worrying, which can be debilitating. Saying that someone worries too much is dismissive of their struggles, and it can make them feel embarrassed or ashamed.

Instead of telling them that they worry too much, offer support and a listening ear.

3. “Stop being so dramatic”

When someone is in the midst of an anxiety attack, what they are feeling is very real for them. Saying that they are being dramatic only discredits their struggle and makes them feel worse.

Instead, try to reassure them and provide support as they work through their anxiety attack.

4. “Just relax”

Relaxing isn’t easy for any of us, let alone someone with anxiety. It’s important to understand that anxiety is not a choice that they can turn off easily. This comment ignores the reality that anxiety is a complex mental illness.

Instead, offer comforting and calming activities or suggest taking deep breaths.”.

5. “Stop overthinking things”

Overthinking things is an integral part of anxiety, and this comment can make someone with anxiety feel misunderstood and isolated in their struggles.

Instead of telling someone to stop overthinking things, try listening to them, and offering support without judgment.

6. “There’s nothing to worry about”

Someone with anxiety cannot quickly turn off their fear and worries, and this comment only adds to their stress and discomfort. Instead, offer reassurances and encouragement to help calm their worries.

7. “Why can’t you be more like so-and-so?”

Comparing someone with anxiety to others can be very detrimental to their mental health. It can make them feel like a failure in the eyes of those around them, which only exacerbates their anxiety.

Instead, try to appreciate them for who they are and understand their struggles.

8. “You should just toughen up!”

Anxiety is not a weakness; it’s a real and debilitating mental health condition. Telling someone to toughen up is dismissive of their struggles and can make them feel ashamed for something they cannot control.

Instead, offer emotional and practical support as they navigate their anxiety.

9. “You’re overreacting”

People experience their emotions differently, and someone’s anxiety may trigger a reaction that’s different from your own. Dismissing their feelings and saying that they’re overreacting can be harmful and make them feel worse.

Instead, be respectful of their emotions and offer support and reassurance.

10. “You’re too sensitive”

When someone has anxiety, they are often more sensitive to their surroundings. This comment is dismissive of their efforts to manage their emotions and can lead to a lack of trust.

Instead, offer support and acknowledge them for their efforts to help you build trust.

11. “You’re just imagining things”

People with anxiety struggle with irrational fears, and this comment can make them feel like they are losing touch with reality. Instead, offer support and reassure them as they work through their fears.

12. “It’s all in your head”

Depending on the situation, this could be a devastating comment to someone with anxiety. It only dismisses their fears and can lead to self-doubt and further anxiety.

Instead, provide support and approach the situation in a way that helps them feel seen and heard.

13. “Just get over it”

Recovering from anxiety isn’t as simple as trying to push past it. This comment can make someone feel like they are not being taken seriously regarding their mental health struggles.

Instead, provide support and reassure them that they will find their way through their anxiety.

14. “You shouldn’t feel that way”

People experience emotions in different ways, and it is essential to validate someone’s experience during an anxiety attack. Someone with anxiety feels their emotions very deeply, and this comment can make them feel invalidated.

Instead, offer support and understand where they are coming from.

15. “You’re making this up”

Questioning the reality of someone’s anxiety is cruel and dismissive of their feelings. It can lead to feelings of isolation and make things worse for them. Instead, offer support and encouragement to help them work through their anxiety.

16. “Why are you like this?”

Asking someone why they are the way they are can indicate a lack of understanding of their mental health struggles. Instead, offer support and be a listening ear as you help them navigate their anxiety.

17. “You’re being irrational”

During an anxiety attack, people with anxiety may have irrational fears. This comment can make them feel ashamed and misunderstood in their struggles. Instead, provide emotional support, and help them work through their fears.

18. “I know how you feel”

While you may mean well, this comment can minimize someone’s unique struggle. Anxiety takes on many different forms, so it is excellent to meet them where they are. Instead, empathize with their struggle and ask how you can help.

19. “Things will be okay”

While things may ultimately be okay, affirming that immediately isn’t helpful. Instead, provide tangible ways to make things okay and offer your support.

20. “Why can’t you just be happy?”

Anxiety isn’t a choice, and telling someone to merely ‘be happy’ disregards their mental health struggles. Instead, offer support and encouragement, and be there for them as they navigate their anxiety.

21. “You’re being too needy.”

People with anxiety may require more support and understanding than others, but this doesn’t make them needy. Instead, meet them where they are and offer practical support to help ease their anxiety.

22. “Don’t worry about things you can’t control”

While this comment can be helpful in certain situations, it can be dismissive of someone’s anxiety. Instead, help them work through their anxiety and manage their symptoms.

23. “You’re being a burden”

Anxiety can make people feel like a burden. This comment further reinforces that feeling and makes things worse for them. Instead, offer support and validation about their anxiety struggles.

24. “Just snap out of it.”

Anxiety doesn’t work like that, and telling someone to snap out of it is dismissive of their mental health struggles. Instead, offer practical and emotional support to help them through their anxiety.

25. “You’re creating drama”

A person’s anxiety isn’t created for drama’s sake. This comment can make them feel guilty or misunderstood, and it further invalidates their mental health struggles. Instead, offer support and validate what they’re going through.

26. “Why can’t you be more positive?”

Everyone’s struggle with anxiety is different, and it is essential to acknowledge that. While positivity is crucial in managing anxiety, it’s not a fix-all solution.

Instead, offer practical tools to help ease their anxiety, and encourage them to explore tools to manage their symptoms long term.

27. “You’re being lazy”

During an anxiety attack, people feel physically and emotionally exhausted. This comment can make them feel guilty for something that’s beyond their control. Instead, offer support and practical help to manage their anxiety more effectively.

28. “Why can’t you just do it?”

Anxiety can make things seem more challenging to accomplish than they are. This comment can make someone feel small, and it doesn’t provide any support or practical help. Instead, help make them take actionable steps towards their goals.

29. “You should just learn to let things go.”

It takes time and work to learn to manage anxiety, and comments like this can be dismissive. Instead, offer support and practical tools to help them let go of their anxious thoughts healthily.

30. “You’re always so negative.”

Anxiety can cause negative thoughts and emotions, but it’s not with their control. This comment can soulmate someone’s anxiety, which is destructive to their overall mood and mental health.

Instead, be understanding and provide positive feedback that reinforces their worth and contributions.

Conclusion

Communicating with someone who has anxiety can be tricky, but it’s important to remember that they are not their anxiety. Try to be understanding and acknowledge their struggles, and offer support without judgment.

By using the right language, you can make things easier and more comfortable for the both of you.