According to the ADAA, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States, affecting about 40 million adults. I commonly hear people talking about how their anxiety levels are “through the roof” due to school or other events that are going on at the time. Most of the time it is said in a joking manner through passing conversation, but it is important for people to recognize that anxiety is real and hits home for many people.
So, what can you do as an individual to help others experiencing anxiety?
Well, you can start off with learning the basics about the disorder.
Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Most people tend to worry, but individuals with anxiety excessively worry about many things at the same time. Anxiety does not come in one flavor, in fact there are many different types of anxiety that someone can experience, which all have their defining characteristics. A common anxiety disorder is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is characterized by persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worry about everyday things. Another type is social anxiety disorder, which is the fear of being scrutinized and judged by others in social or performance situations. This is NOT just being shy, but much more so than that. Some other anxiety disorders worth mentioning are panic disorders, OCD, and PTSD. Anxiety disorders can develop from a complex set of risk factors, such as genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors.
Back to the real question then, what can you do to help someone experiencing anxiety?
Once you have recognized the prevalence of anxiety in a particular individual, find a way to approach them and let them know you are there to help. By giving 
someone a safe space to talk and share feelings, it might serve as a much needed de-stressor that they did not know was available. Feeling that you are alone with a disorder like anxiety can just increase the negative effects on everyday life. If the person is not willing to talk, you could point out resources for them to access in order to get help with their disorder. For example, on college campuses, there are counselors who are more than willing to help struggling students. You could also recommend apps that they can download onto their phones that will take them through steps in order to decrease their feelings of anxiety (HelloMind and Anxiety Free are two options). This may be a good option since our world runs on technology now.
It is important to remember that everyone experiences anxiety differently, so your approach will need to be molded to the individual you are reaching out to. I hope with this tidbit of information you will be able to make a difference in someones life who is battling anxiety.
Anxiety: What Can You Do?
