Specific disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Each of these involve distinct symptoms, triggers, and courses of treatment. Look for resources on your partner's specific disorder, and ask about what triggers their anxiety. Find helpful resources at https://www.anxiety.org. If your partner sees a mental health professional, ask for more information about the specific anxiety disorder. Discuss how you can play an active role in treatment, such as by assisting your partner with anxiety-reduction techniques. If they're nervous about seeking treatment, suggest that they see their primary doctor first. For some people, a "regular" doctor is less intimidating than a mental health professional. Express that you care about them, and remind them that they shouldn't feel ashamed for getting treatment. If they're hesitant, try to ease their concerns. Say, "There's no difference between taking care of your physical and mental health. Anxiety disorders are illnesses; try not to worry about being judged for seeking treatment." Additionally, encourage your partner to stick with treatment, take any prescribed medication, and to do their homework. Their therapist will likely ask them to do breathing techniques, write in a journal, exercise, or practice cognitive behavioral exercises. They may be nervous about taking medication. However, a therapist can help them try techniques to help manage their anxiety without medication, depending on the type and severity of their condition. Reassure your partner that they can be vulnerable with you and express any churning, anxious thoughts. They might tend to jump to conclusions, have racing thoughts, or convince themselves that you've left or are hurt if they don't hear from you. Keeping these thoughts and feelings bottled up can feed their anxiety, so tell them it's safe to confide in you. Say, "Please come to me if you're feeling panicked, especially if it's about our relationship. If you start thinking negatively or obsessively, try to breathe and tell your mind to stop racing. I'm here for you, I care about you, and I get that anxiety can involve overwhelming negative thoughts." Within reason, try to check in with your partner, especially if they tend to jump to conclusions or think the worst. For instance, if you know you'll be late, send them a text so they won't convince themselves that you're lying in a ditch somewhere. Note that checking in with them can be helpful, but you should still enforce boundaries. Letting them know you're running late is one thing, but it's not okay for them to call you at work every hour. Discuss their triggers, and work with them to set goals related to managing their anxiety. For instance, if they have social anxiety, a goal might be to go to a public place once a week. Coping strategies to prevent a panic attack might include breathing exercises and positive visualization. If they tend to procrastinate and experience panic attacks when work piles up, help them manage their time effectively. Keep in mind there's a difference between management strategies and avoiding triggers altogether. For example, locking themselves in the house with the curtains drawn to avoid a panic attack just perpetuates social anxiety. Even if they take baby steps, call out healthy behavior and celebrate it. Positive reinforcement can encourage them to keep up their hard work. Suppose their anxiety disorder has prevented them from landing a steady job. If they made a resume and start sending out applications, praise them, even if they haven't gotten an interview yet. Say, "These are big steps, and I know you're putting a lot of effort forth. I'm proud of you."

Summary: Learn about your partner's specific anxiety disorder. Encourage them to seek treatment, if they haven't already. Affirm that they can confide in you without fear of judgment. Communicate with your partner so they'll worry less. Help them develop and stick to management strategies. Praise their accomplishments, even if they seem minor.

This basic Greek salad with dressing is relatively easy and makes 6 to 8 servings. You can leave out ingredients according to taste. Here's what you'll need: 2/3 cup grams feta cheese, cubed 1 head of romaine lettuce 4 tomatoes cut in wedges 1 cucumber, unpeeled, cut in rounds 1 large red onion, peeled and cut in fine wedges 1 teaspoon dried oregano 15 to 20 pitted black olives Salt to taste 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil Wash the head of romaine lettuce well to rid it of any pesticides. Tear the washed lettuce into small, bite-sized pieces by hand and place the lettuce pieces into a large serving bowl. If you want your lettuce to come out in more uniform pieces, use a knife to chop up your lettuce instead of tearing it. If you're not a fan of romaine, feel free to substitute your favorite lettuce, like butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce. Peel the red onion and slice it thinly. Chop the cucumber into rounds and the tomatoes into wedges. Place the fresh ingredients on top of the lettuce in the serving bowl. Sprinkle the salad with crumbled feta cheese. Top it off with pitted kalamata olives. Sprinkle the salad with a dash of dried oregano. If you don't have access to kalamata olives for whatever reason, black olives work just as well as a substitute. Freshly chopped oregano can be substituted for dried oregano. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the mixed salad. Drizzle plenty of olive oil over the bowl. Season the salad by sprinkling salt and pepper onto the salad mix. Toss the salad to allow all of the ingredients to get a bit of the oil and seasoning. Taste the salad to see if it needs any additional seasoning or oil and feel free to adjust as needed.

Summary: Gather your ingredients. Prepare the base for your Greek salad. Process the vegetables and add them to the salad. Add authentic Greek toppings. Dress the Greek salad with your wet ingredients.

This works particularly well with shiny bulb, glass, or metal ornaments as these types are the most reflective. Tinsel makes your tree glitter. Hang tinsel near lights for the shiniest look possible. Be mindful with the amount of tinsel you place on your tree. Too much tinsel could take away from the beauty of your ornaments. For a more modern look, buy colored tinsel rather than the traditional gold and silver.
Summary: Hang ornaments near lights to highlight certain ornaments. Add tinsel (optional).