How to Deal with a Partner Unsympathetic to Your Anxiety Disorder

For millions of Americans, anxiety is part of their daily life. Whether their anxiety manifests itself in panic attacks, a refusal to go certain places or attend certain events or rearranging their home life and routine to get through another day, living with an anxiety disorder is frustrating, frightening and can be very overwhelming. These feelings of being out of control and impending tragedy can be even more overwhelming when there is no support from a bewildered or unsympathetic partner. Although the reality of what it is like to live with an anxiety disorder is very well publicized and much more openly discussed as compared to decades ago, the truth is that there are many people who simply can not understand the disorder and therefore have little sympathy for people who can't just "get over it." If you are trying to manage an anxiety disorder and are coupled with someone who falls into this category, this can be quite distressing and add to your feelings of hopelessness and frustration. Here are some suggestions on how you can keep working to manage your anxiety disorder without letting your partner's feelings and limitations exacerbate your struggle.

Be Open With Your Partner Without Apologizing. You don't need to apologize for your anxiety disorder. This is a very real condition that you didn't ask for or cause. Although you may feel badly that your anxiety issues affect your partner, this is not something you purposely brought on yourself and you shouldn't feel guilty. Let go of the guilt. Being a couple means sharing the good and the bad, the times of wellness and also of illness. If explaining your reasons why you can't go a certain place today ,or why you didn't clean the house yesterday because your anxiety was at such a level that you needed to do other things to manage it, fall on deaf ears, do not beg for forgiveness or plead for understanding. Doing so will only make you feel more out of control and alone. Simply explain that you are having a bad day and leave it at that.