It may be daunting to date a girl with anxiety if you don’t understand what she’s going through, but remember that you’re not there to ‘fix’ her. She knows she has anxiety but she also knows how to deal with it when it rears its head. It may spill over into your relationship, but remember these seven things when dating a girl with anxiety.

1. Sometimes all we need to do is vent

Our anxiety can make us overthink things and it ends up putting more pressure on us. Some of us also experience anxiety which makes us feel like we don’t have enough time to complete everything we need to do, which can make us feel scared. Sometimes we may need you for advice, but more often than not we just need to vent to get the frustration off our chest.

2. Our anxiety may make us seem irrational

There have been plenty of times when my anxiety has over-taken my emotions and influenced how I’ve reacted to situations. Although my actions may come off as irrational, they are perfectly rational to me. This isn’t always easy to understand, but patience and a bit of breathing room help me work past these moments.

3. Your understanding goes a long way

Even if you don’t fully understand our thought-process and how we deal with our anxiety, just sitting and listening goes a long way. Our decision to share our anxiety-ridden moments with you proves we trust you without a doubt.

4. You’re going to have to gain her trust

You’re going to have to work for a deep level of trust. A girl with anxiety who’s been misled in the past will come off as jealous because she’s safeguarding her heart from what she fears will happen. We know we shouldn’t compare you to our past relationships, but there are times when we can’t help it. Gaining her trust will prove to be the biggest reward when dating a girl with anxiety.

5. She needs reassurance

We’re not questioning the relationship or questioning you. When our anxiety gets the better of us, just remind us you’re there and that’s all we need when we get scared. A text or phone call can go a long way.

6. You won’t always be able to help her

Girls with anxiety are pros at safeguarding their emotions and thus don’t let it show too often. So don’t take her shutting down as a sign of distrust. She may just need some time to figure things out on her own. If she needs your help, she’ll ask for it.

7. She is more than her anxiety

While it may be tiring to deal with our anxiety if you don’t understand it, remember she is not defined by her anxiety. She has so much more to offer you, and when she shares her anxiety with you, just remember it is one of the many layers to her.