Can Family Members and Loved Ones of Anxiety Sufferers Find Support on Phobics Awareness?

Updated

Yes. Phobics Awareness explicitly states that support is available not only to people who have anxiety disorders, but also to the loved ones and family members of those who do. The site describes itself as a community for "anyone affected by" panic, phobias, and anxiety, and notes that if you are a loved one or family member of someone with anxiety, "you may find the support offered here of incredible value."

Why the Site Includes Loved Ones

The reasoning is stated directly on the site: phobias, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks "can be chronic and incredibly damaging conditions, affecting not only the individual struggling, but loved ones as well." Because the impact spreads beyond the person with the diagnosis, the community is framed around everyone affected rather than only the sufferer.

What Support Is Available to Family Members

The site offers several ways to participate, all described as open to anyone affected by anxiety disorders:

  • Forums — an active discussion space where "all aspects of anxiety disorders may be discussed"
  • Chat room — described as friendly, warm, and welcoming, with people from around the world
  • Guides — written material on phobias and anxiety
  • Community exchange — the site describes its purpose as "support through the exchange of ideas, information and coping skills"

The site also notes that its community brings together people from all over the world, so family members are not limited to local resources.

Conditions the Community Discusses

The site lists the following as conditions affecting the people it serves, which can help family members find discussions relevant to their situation:

  • Panic attacks and Panic Disorder
  • Agoraphobia
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Social Phobia
  • Other anxiety disorders and conditions

Practical Notes for Family Members Joining

  • The site states that its website, forum, guides, and chat room are all free.
  • The forum was recently updated. The old forum could not be migrated, so it is stored in a forum archive containing over 30,000 posts. New conversations take place on the new forums.
  • According to the site, existing login details remain the same after the update.

If you are a family member or loved one looking for a place to understand what someone with an anxiety disorder is going through — or to talk with others in the same position — Phobics Awareness is designed to include you, not just the person with the diagnosis.