Mark
Active Member
Having suffered from phobias and anxiety in the past I know what helped me and have my own thoughts on this subject but I would be interested to hear the thoughts of others @KirstyMarks @Andy @Craig
Andy
Member
Without doubt, THE most important thing is that they understand and accept that you have an issue.
Mark
Active Member
Some people try tough love - I presume that is the worst thing you can do?
Andy
Member
What you need to remember is that every case is individual, there's no "one size fits all" approach that works for everyone.
Some people may respond to tough love better than the softly softly.
Some people may respond to tough love better than the softly softly.
Craig
Member
Andy is right.
Telling people it is all in their head and suck it up can feel demeaning for the person with it. Some will think it is ridiculous to have such a phobia or be anxious about something. Because they do not understand it as they have never suffered with it.
Family support is great, encouragement is brilliant to help someone feel safe, yet again. Over time. Will it help someone to overcome the issue.? Often not as it can become a crutch. I am all for support of loved ones or friends as long as it is positive and not something whereby the person is hidden away and pitied or indeed forced into facing certain things which makes them even more uncomfortable.
We get many people come to us for these issues and often they have said that it drives their family, wife, husband etc up the wall as they do not understand it.
They can be of benefit yet it can be double edged sword depending on how it is approached.
Craig.
Telling people it is all in their head and suck it up can feel demeaning for the person with it. Some will think it is ridiculous to have such a phobia or be anxious about something. Because they do not understand it as they have never suffered with it.
Family support is great, encouragement is brilliant to help someone feel safe, yet again. Over time. Will it help someone to overcome the issue.? Often not as it can become a crutch. I am all for support of loved ones or friends as long as it is positive and not something whereby the person is hidden away and pitied or indeed forced into facing certain things which makes them even more uncomfortable.
We get many people come to us for these issues and often they have said that it drives their family, wife, husband etc up the wall as they do not understand it.
They can be of benefit yet it can be double edged sword depending on how it is approached.
Craig.
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Mark
Active Member
I don't know how she did it but my wife immediately found a balance between being supportive and understanding and also pushing me at times - without her help I would have struggled to get through it. I can only imagine it must be a very very lonely place if your family and friends are not supportive of you in your time of need. I am not saying their support is the game changer in the battle but having their support is perhaps once less thing to worry about?