When someone is anxious, it can be tempting to lend reassurance. Still, even well-intended comments sometimes hurt.
This article offers several helpful points, among them are the following:
Telling an anxious person that they need to get it together or that they are ‘ok’ is often not helpful.
An expression of empathy for where someone is, on the other hand, can go very far in helping the other person feel less anxious.
