Getting Used To It: His Panic Attacks My Peace: When Anxiety Is Contagious

Send us Fan MailYou know that feeling when your partner walks in stressed and your body knows before they even speak? That chest-tightening dread that feels like being pulled into a riptide? That's anxiety contagion—and it might be ruining your week. Suzee's husband spirals about money. Even though she does the budget and knows they're fine, his panic hijacks her. Two days of crisis mode later, she proves they're okay. He's instantly fine. She's wrung out and resentful. Beth's version is different: total contraction. When her partner announced they needed to cut spending by 40% at Christmas, she froze. No Target for two months. Dish soap guilt. Different response, same trap.The impossible question: What happens when NOT getting on the anxiety train makes things worse? When boundaries get you accused of not caring? There's no answer here. Just two women admitting they're still figuring out how to love someone without drowning in their fear. If you're exhausted from being Command Central for everyone's emotions, this won't solve it. But you're not alone.Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Getting Used To It!If you enjoyed today’s conversation, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving us a review—it helps others discover the show! We’d also love to hear your thoughts, so drop us a comment or connect with us on Bluesky @gettingusedtoit.bksy.social.Stay connected, stay curious, and we’ll see you next time!