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A
support person is anyone who the anxious person turns
to when they are feeling anxious or panicky.
Being
a support person is an important job, but not an easy
one. One of the important things you have to recognize
is that the person you're supporting has no control over
when or where the attacks will take place. It's not all
in their head, it's a recognized disorder. With time,
the two of you may be able to identify certain places
or situations which usually cause an attack.
The
first thing a support person should do is learn as much
as possible about anxiety disorder. If you're not sure
where to start, check our recommended
reading lists.
Your
next step is to learn the details and the extent of the
anxiety/panic person you are supporting. Examples:
-
They
can't drive alone, but they can drive if someone is
with them.
-
They
can go to the store at the mall, but only by using
the outside door, they can't go through the mall to
get to the store.
- They
can go anywhere, but only by using side streets, they
aren't able to drive on expressways.
This
lets you know what areas you will be needed and also what
areas you may be able to help them with.
The
next step would be to see if you could gather some facts
to help the person you're supporting. Using the example
of the mall; you could see where all the outside doors
are located, how long to walk between exits, what would
be the closest mall entrance to the store they want to
go to, etc.
When
you do go out with the anxious person, let them control
how far they want to go. You can encourage them, but don't
push them. This could cause them to have a setback or
not want to practice anymore. Remember, when they become
anxious or panicky -- they are responding to real
physical sensations.
Don't
be too demanding of yourself and them. Not everyone has
the patience to be a support person. This is not a job
for a perfectionist. A good rule of thumb is "support,
follow, or stand aside."
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