Title: How Anxiety May Affect Your Relationships
Headings: How Anxiety May Affect Your Relationships
How Anxiety May Affect Your Relationships
Are You Overly Dependent or Avoidant?
Being Overly Dependent
Combating Problematic Dependency
Recognizing and Addressing Avoidance
Treating Anxiety and Relationship Problems
A Word From Verywell

Content: How Anxiety May Affect Your Relationships
GAD
Coping
How Anxiety May Affect Your Relationships
Are You Overly Dependent or Avoidant? By
William Meek
Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 27, 2019
Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board
Steven Gans, MD
Updated on March 25, 2020
Noel Hendrickson / Digital Vision / Getty Images
Having generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can negatively impact many aspects of your life, including your relationships. Here are two specific ways in which your anxiety can lead to problems maintaining connections with others, as well as strategies you can implement (under the guidance of a mental health professional) to help you navigate these unhealthy attachment patterns. Being Overly Dependent
Some people with GAD have an intense desire for closeness to their partners (or friend), depending on them constantly for support and reassurance. Along with being overly dependent, people with GAD may find themselves prone to overthinking, planning for all worst-case scenarios, being indecisive, fearing rejection, and seeking out constant communication (and getting anxious if a partner or friend does not respond quickly). 1 ﻿
People with GAD and overly dependent relationships may also struggle with anger toward those they feel dependent on, acting out in ways that are destructive to their relationships. Combating Problematic Dependency
If you find yourself developing overly dependent attachments, developing ways to cope with your anxiety and relying more on yourself for feeling better can take the pressure off your partner or friend. For instance, if you find yourself becoming angry or suspicious in these relationships, first remind yourself that this may be fueled by your anxiety. Then, take a few moments to think about any hard data (facts) that support your worry to try and regain some perspective.