How To Help Someone With Anxiety Over Text

Millions of people across the United States grapple with anxiety disorders annually, so if you struggle to effectively communicate with your loved ones, remember you’re in good company.

The challenge of expressing oneself clearly when anxious can lead to misunderstandings and complications in personal connections, especially in text-based conversations.

Acknowledging this, our guide aims to explore eight particularly soothing text messages that can provide comfort to someone experiencing anxiety.

What to say to someone with anxiety over text:?

1. “You’re Safe, I’ve Got Your Back”

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When comforting someone with anxiety through text, aim to be a source of reassurance and support, creating an environment where they feel valued and at ease. This approach is crucial for mitigating any anxiety or apprehension they may feel.

Emphasize your optimism for the future and alleviate their self-doubt by affirming your steadfast presence in their life.

Messages such as “It’s okay to feel uncertain, I have faith in you” and “Feel free to share anything with me, I’ll listen without judgment” can be significantly reassuring.

2. “You Are Always Loved”

How to help someone with anxiety over text: reminding a loved one they have nothing to hide and that you love them unconditionally is always a good way to reassure them.

Praise their strengths and celebrate their uniqueness, letting them know that you’ll be there for them during both the good days and the bad ones.

Try to show acceptance for their mental health by saying things like “your anxiety doesn’t change how I feel about you, it’s simply part of the person that I fell in love with.”

3. “How Can I Help/Support You?”

What to say to someone with anxiety over text: It’s often a good idea to ask what kind of support a loved one needs from you. For some people it may just be a hug, whereas others might need a little more, and could ask you to review mental health resources with them.

If a problem feels too overwhelming, try your best to help break it down and manage their anxiety. For example, you could design a to-do list, or you could research some local therapists and send over their contact details.

4. “What’s The Root Of The Problem?”

Don’t be afraid to ask directly about the problem, so you can help them to successfully unpack it.

Whether it’s work-related, to do with family issues, or struggles with money, work together towards the final goal of solving the problem, and you’ll be sure to help their anxiety.

5. “I’m Ordering You Some Food”

How to help a friend with anxiety over text: Sometimes people who suffer from anxiety struggle to take care of their basic needs.

Therefore, offering acts of service such as buying food and drink can be a great way to provide them with some much-needed comfort during a tough time.

This could be making their favorite home-cooked dish or putting together a gift basket packed with all their guilty-pleasure snacks. Text them what you’re planning, and you’ll be sure to lift their spirits!

6. “You Don’t Have To Cope With This On Your Own”

Remind your loved one that there are lots of people who can offer empathy and care. Not only can they rely on your friendship, they also have mental health professionals, support groups, and a whole community that they can utilize.

With this in mind, make sure you remind them about all the support they have by texting them things like “lots of people care about you, have you reached out to anyone else about this?”

7. “Do You Want Me To Come Over?”

Make yourself available and let them decide how they want to communicate. They might want to stick to text, but there may be other days when they really want to hang out and watch a movie with you.

Remain flexible with lots of different ways to stay in touch. It’s often helpful to give them a couple of options when trying to communicate, texting things like “do you want me to drive over or would you prefer a video call?”

8. “Take A Deep Breath”

Encouraging your loved one to take a break and decompress with some grounding exercises is a good way to help with their anxiety. You can help to clear their head and talk about some of the things they find most calming.

This might be lighting their favorite candle and running a bath, or it could be getting out in the sunshine for a short walk. Learn what makes them happy and content.

From my personal experience as a psychotherapist I can vouch for breathing techniques. Let me explain.

I had a situation where I had to help someone with anxiety over text.

In that particular situation I made sure the client was first and foremost safe (safety before anything else).

Then I proceeded with simple breathing exercises and implementing the 3-3-3 rule. Read here how the 3-3-3 rule works: what is the 3-3-3 rule for anxiety

My client was significantly calmer, and grounded within 15min. Panic attack was contained over text! Obviously there are a lot of variables that play into the extent of anxiety and or panic attack, however in this particular case it succeeded. In short there are absolutely ways you can help or comfort someone over text messages.

How To Know If Someone Is Anxious?

There are a number of things you can look out for to tell if someone is feeling anxious. Some of these include:

They avoid certain situations because they fear being judged by others
They worry excessively about things that aren’t even important
They find themselves worrying about things that haven’t happened yet
Their thoughts race uncontrollably
They experience physical symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches, or dizziness
They have trouble making decisions
They have low self-esteem

What To Say To Someone Having A Panic Attack Over Text?

If you’re worried about someone who is experiencing a panic attack, it might be helpful to offer them reassurance. Here are some of the best things you can say:

“I’m here for you. I understand how scary this must feel. It sounds like you’re feeling really overwhelmed right now. Do you want me to call you back?”
“It’s okay to let out all your feelings. You don’t have to hold anything in. Letting go of those feelings is what helps you get through this.”
“You’re not alone. There are people around you who care about you. We’ll take good care of you until you feel better.”
“Let’s talk more tomorrow. I love you.”

What Is Texting Anxiety?

Texting anxiety is a condition where individuals become extremely nervous while texting. The main reason why people develop this condition is due to their inability to read other people’s emotions on their faces.

Some common causes of texting anxiety include:

Feeling insecure about one’s appearance
Not knowing what to say next
Being afraid of saying something wrong
Having a bad habit of talking too much
Thinking too much before sending a text
Worrying about what others think about them

The Bottom Line

To conclude, there are lots of different ways on what to say to someone with anxiety attack over text.

Hopefully, after reading this guide, you’ll be in a much stronger position to support and communicate with your loved ones without being too overbearing!

Frequently Asked Questions for what to say to someone with anxiety attack over text

What are some signs to identify if someone is suffering from anxiety?

Symptoms of anxiety can include avoiding certain situations due to fear of judgment, excessive worry about minor things or events that haven’t happened yet, racing thoughts, physical symptoms like stomach aches or dizziness, difficulty in decision making, and low self-esteem.

What should I text someone who’s experiencing a panic attack?

In such situations, you can text reassuring messages such as: “I’m here for you. It’s okay to express your feelings. You’re not alone, we’ll take care of you until you feel better. Let’s talk more tomorrow. I love you.”

What is texting anxiety and what are its common causes?

Texting anxiety is a condition where individuals feel extremely nervous while texting, often due to an inability to read others’ emotions. This may be caused by feelings of insecurity about one’s appearance, uncertainty about what to say next, fear of saying something wrong, overthinking before sending a text, or worrying about others’ perceptions of them.

How to comfort someone with anxiety over text message?

You can provide comfort by reassuring the person that they are safe, loved, and not alone and can arrange for further emotional support. Offer your help, inquire about the root of their problem, remind them to take care of their basic needs, encourage them to seek help from others, and suggest grounding exercises.

How should I respond if someone with anxiety asks for help through a text message?

If they’re asking for help, try to understand the kind of support they need and remember there are things you should not tell them. This might involve listening to them, helping break down overwhelming problems, researching mental health resources, or simply providing comforting words and reassurances. Offer a range of communication options, like video call or in-person meetups, depending on their comfort.