Navigating relationships with anxiety: A guide to healthy connection; therapist explains

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Communication is the key in a relationship. here’s how we can navigate relationships with anxiety:

Acknowledge the anxiety: the primary step is to acknowledge the anxiety that we are feeling. We should be self-aware and should not run away from the feeling.

Choose the right time: We should find a time when we are calm, and the partner is also relaxed. We should bring up the conversation at a time when none of us can feel triggered by it.

Be honest and direct: Instead of hitting around the bush, we should be honest and direct about our emotions. We should tell the partner how we are feeling, and how we would like them to address it in a healthy manner.

Prepare what we want to say: prior to the conversation, we should work on ourselves, and sit with our thoughts. We can jot down our thoughts so that we have it all prepared when we want to speak to our partner.

Active listening: While we expect the partner to be an active listener. We should also practice active listening and lend our ears to them as they express themselves. Any relationship is a two-way street, and we should remember that.

Self-care: We should indulge in self-care and learn to pamper and relax ourselves. This helps in combating anxiety and valuing ourselves more.

Seek professional help: If things do not seem to work out, we should seek professional help to guide us to the path of recovery and mental peace.