One of the difficult situations we face during the coronavirus days is being exposed to the concerns of our loved ones. The worries of our loved ones added to our own existing anxiety can make us feel helpless and cause our own anxiety to increase. In this case, there are many methods we can do. You are not helpless.
1- Don't say "calm down", if he could, he would have done it already. This statement makes you think that you do not understand or care about the person's feelings. A person who feels that you avoid communication, that you do not want to listen, and that you cannot help may experience deeper despair and loneliness. But 'what do you think? What is going through your mind about this situation? What do you intend to do? Asking open-ended questions such as "What can be done?" will not only make the other party feel listened to and understood, but will also help them generate different ideas. It will allow the one-sided perspective brought by the cloud of anxiety to change. In this case, the different ideas you bring will be effective in managing your own anxiety.
2- Saying "there is nothing to worry about" or "it is not very important" to reassure you actually shows that you do not care about or reject the other person's feelings. Showing empathy instead of rejecting their feelings will give the person confidence. Try to understand his anxiety and do not trivialize it.
3- Do not say "I have problems too". Of course, you can talk about your own anxiety and this may reassure the person (thinking that it is not just me), but talking about your own concerns for a long time and continuing the conversation only about yourself will not help the other party. Take time to listen to his concerns. You can explain your concerns to another relative or talk about them at a more appropriate time.
4- Do not share information with your loved ones that you are not sure is accurate. When you say you will help and inform, you may increase the anxiety even more. You can say "I don't know" or "I'm not sure" about something you don't know. You can tell him that you will investigate this for him and share reliable information. You can direct him to obtain information from more reliable sources.
Helping others with their anxiety will also be effective in reducing your own anxiety. These will not reset anxiety, but your attempt to communicate and help your loved ones in a healthier way may be effective in reducing shared anxiety. If intense anxiety persists, another effective way to help is to direct the child to a psychologist or psychiatrist and ensure that he or she receives professional support.
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