When someone we care about is experiencing GAD, it can be difficult to watch them suffer. GAD, or generalized anxiety disorder, refers to persistent, uncontrollable worry. This worry can span a variety of topics, from major concerns like family and personal health to more minor matters like being on time for appointments. While it can be tough to see someone we care about in pain, there are ways we can help. Here are four tips for supporting a loved one with GAD
What Kinds of Relationship Problems?
If someone is diagnosed with GAD and is in a relationship, they are more likely to experience marital conflict. Individuals suffering from GAD may view the acts and intentions of others with more mistrust and vigilance than those who do not suffer from this anxiety disease.
People suffering from GAD are also more prone to be easily hurt by others, and they engage with people in passive, aggressive, or invasive ways.
Furthermore, persons with this diagnosis have indicated that their communication patterns tend to be either highly critical or overly passive, and that these patterns might occur automatically and without awareness. Furthermore, they report wanting to avoid crucial relationship-strengthening activities because they are distracted by anxieties or because they are emotionally and psychologically present in them, but they find it difficult to feel connected in their relationships or those activities.
If you are in a relationship with someone who suffers from GAD, you may be having difficulty understanding their irritation, anxieties, or communication style. Perhaps you have been harmed by some of the passive, hostile, and critical interactions that have taken place.
4 Relationship-Building Strategies
Follow these four evidence-based recommendations to enhance your relationship, whether you are the one having GAD symptoms or are in a relationship with someone who has GAD symptoms.
3-Become mindful of the present moment.
Our anxieties often pull us out of the present and into the future or past. Pay attention to your current relational needs: how do you feel? What thoughts come to mind? What do you need from your spouse or friend right now? Is it someone worth paying attention to? Someone, to assist in the resolution of a problem?
Consider some formal mindfulness techniques to help you achieve a deeper awareness of your thoughts and feelings.
This will enable you to connect to them with compassion rather than judgment or reaction. You can practice mindfulness in a variety of ways.
2-Listen actively and mindfully.
Before giving your point of view, focus on truly comprehending what others are saying and clarifying with them that you grasp it accurately. This method may aid in the resolution of problematic patterns of too passive or aggressive communication practices in your relationships.
It might help to check in at the start of a conversation and clarify: Do you need someone to listen and support you, or do you need someone to assist you to solve a problem?
Taking action when our partners just want someone to listen can further escalate conflicts. It may help ensure that you are both on the same page with the communication goals at the time.
3- Take some time to think about the good things individuals in your relationships do.
This can help you to focus on the positive aspects of your relationships. It can be easy to worry about things that aren’t going well, but it’s important to remember the things that are going right, too. Thank the people in your life for their actions, both big and small.
Something as simple as taking out the trash or giving a warm welcome when you come home from work can make a difference.
So can planning a fun outing or cooking a nice meal.
4- Consider your relational ideals.
What type of partner, spouse, sibling, parent, or coworker do you want to be? which qualities or features do you wish to embody in these relationships? What are some simple ways you may live those principles today?
These can be little steps, such as agreeing to attentively listen to your spouse when they return home from work or taking a time-out when you notice your anger rising so that a fight does not escalate.
Take five minutes to breathe deeply when you get home from work to recharge your batteries.
