Being Supportive While Handling Mental Illness

Being someone's partner has its own day-to-day challenges, which can be made even more complex issues that we each may face. My boyfriend and I have both our own situations when it comes to mental illness, and it can sometimes be hard to navigate what to do when your partner is in crisis. When my boyfriend and I started dating he would often have panic attacks while on phone calls with me. It's hard to help someone when they are so far away, but I did everything I could to help. Take the time to remind your partner that you are there for them, and express how much you care for them. I often walked my partner through breathing exercises and did them with him until the panic attacks had passed. Being there doesn't always have to be a physical situation, and showing your partner that you are there no matter what can progress your relationship even further.