Just Checking In: Anxiety

10 SIMPLE QUESTIONS TO CHECK IN ON SOMEONE’S MENTAL HEALTH WHEN THEY’RE STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY

When you live with anxiety, it’s easy to get stuck in your own head. And when anxiety is at its worst, reaching out and staying connected can become a real struggle. That’s why making an effort to check in with your loved ones is so important.  It can be hard to ask how someone is actually feeling or to start a conversation about their mental health. But sometimes — you just have to ask.

Introducing Just Checking In: Anxiety — ten simple questions to check-in with your friends and family when they’re struggling with anxiety. You can do this over the phone, on FaceTime, or in person — and it only takes ten minutes.

A few quick things to keep in mind:

  • Spend as much time as you want on each question.

  • Stay engaged with follow-up questions.

  • Keep things judgment-free.

  • You don’t have to be an expert, you just have to listen.

  • Stay in touch after, and don’t be afraid to connect them to resources.

We’d explain more, but…you get it.

  1. How are you feeling today, really? Physically and mentally.

  2. Are you taking care of the basics (sleeping, eating full meals, drinking enough water)?

  3. Have you been able to do any self-care lately? If not, what would help you get back on track?

  4. What’s been taking up a lot of space in your mind lately? Any recurring thoughts?

  5. When was the last time you stretched or went outside for some fresh air?

  6. What’s your body feeling like right now (breathing, heartbeat, muscles)? What sensations do you notice?

  7. What’s one thing you struggled with this week?

  8. What’s one thing that went well this week?

  9. What’s something I can do to make you feel loved and supported?

  10. What’s a small thing you can do today to prioritize yourself and your mental health?

You did it! Wasn’t that nice? Now pick someone to call tomorrow and pay it forward.

Keep it going

You can use these same questions with every person in your life, multiple times.

Check-in with yourself

Don’t forget that this check-in can work on your own, too! You can’t help other people if you aren’t checking-in with yourself, so go ahead and ask yourself these questions and answer honestly.

Connect to resources

Don’t worry if you don’t have the perfect response — just be you and be an active listener. You can always connect them to resources on our Journal or Find Help pages after your check-in. 

You got this

If you feel a little nervous about having a conversation with someone about their mental health, check out Just Talk About It or Listen Up. 

Share it on social

We want to hear about your conversations! Screenshot your Just Checking In video chats and post to your social channels. Tag @idontmind and use the hashtag #justcheckingin.

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You can find our original Just Checking In for simple questions to check-in with your friends and family at any point throughout the year.

Just Checking In, AnxietyKristina Benoist