Boyfriend with anxiety
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi,
I don't really know where to start. I don't mind who answers, whether you're with someone who has anxiety or have anxiety yourself.
My boyfriend of 2 years in a long distance relationship stuggles with anxiety and although it doesn't affect me daily, he's never come to see me. He panics about travelling because he's not in control. As much as I understand it makes me feel really worthless at times, I take it personally the way he never comes to see me, I'm always travelling to see him.
He's on medication but he's not doing anything else about it, he doesn't go to see anyone. His family's approach is just to let him do whatever once he can, but he plans to move to uni with me this September and he's only come up once. The only time he's been here is with his mum - which is the only thing that gives me hope - he attempted to come up the other day but couldn't do it. I try so hard to be positive and patient but it's just too hard at times, especially with the stress of exams.
How do I help him? How do I encourage him to get more help without being too pushy? At university there is a whole department for helping with mental illnesses that's free, I don't understand why he's not running for this opportunity even if it's not worked for him in the past. I just don't know what to do.
Thank you x
1 like, 6 replies
archemedes imogen.a
Posted
What makes things worse is that they know there is something wrong in their lives, but they cannot quite find for themselves what it is, or what it will take to put things right for them.
It does take a considerable amount of courage for someone in these particular circumstances to seek the necessary medical help to put them on the road to recovery, and this is where you can help.
As an outsider looking in maybe the best thing you can do is to offer understanding and as much gentle support as you can give him, and try to encourage him to go to university and seek help there.
Alternatively, if you feel that he needs help before he can motivate himself to get to Uni, maybe the best course of action would be for you to encourage him as much as possible to seek help now.
What I can tell you for sure is that it is not going to be an easy ride for either of you, because that is what this sort of illness does to people.
bonnie21356 imogen.a
Posted
phil37826 bonnie21356
Posted
clairexx imogen.a
Posted
As someone who suffers with anxiety myself i can relate to your boyfriend. But i can also understand how frustrating it must feel for you. My ex boyfriend was brilliant with me & always encouraged me & had endless amount of patience and just knowing that he was rooting for me & believed in me made a big difference. It must be hard for you to have to watch him go through it & feel helpless. But if you love him then you must stand by him you can't do anything for him other than encourage & be there for him! it's up to him to make the next step of getting help. he might not be ready to accept that he needs help. he sounds very lucky to have you though & i hope that your future is a happy one
gwen1953 imogen.a
Posted
DYSLEXIC imogen.a
Posted