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Another anxious week comes to a close. But who can blame us for being on edge? The earth is warming, healthcare is way too expensive, and world leaders are tweeting like less-literate Mean Girls. What’s not as predictable as humanity's giant tire fire, though, is the way anxiety doesn’t always look like the scream emoji or a person hyperventilating into a brown paper bag. It shows up in different ways for each one of us (whattup

nervous shitters

).

Knowing what to do about it starts with being able to spot your particular flavor of madness in the first place. Figuring that out could bring you one step closer to nirvana. No, okay, one step closer to getting through the day without losing your shit (har har). More on this below. But first:

Q: I've had a falling out with my 17-year-old family member (I'm an adult). She refuses to talk to me, and often when I see her she doesn't even acknowledge I'm there. It's been a whole year and a half since this happened. I love her very much and want to make things right. How can I make her see I made a terrible mistake and want to make amends if she won't even talk to me? I've written her a letter and texted, and still nothing. I'm hurting inside just knowing she seems to hate me. Any advice would be helpful.

—Jeannine

A: This sounds like an incredibly tough and painful situation, J.

The first thing that jumped out at me is, though you've been patient, we simply can't put a timeline on another person's healing. Yes, a year and a half seems like a lot, but we don't know how deeply she's been hurt. As desperately as you're trying to make her see that you're sorry, it is up to her to be ready to hear it. It seems she is not quite there yet, and unfortunately for you, you have to wait for it.

Once she does reach out, it may be worth seeking a family therapist in your area. It seems the relationship is in a delicate place, which without a professional, can feel seemingly impossible to navigate. I hope this helps. Wishing you patience from afar.

Warm Regards, Michelle

Michelle Lozano is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and member of the

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

.

• "I look calm, but really I'm internally panicking." Here's what high-functioning anxiety looks like and how one writer dealt with it.
• Feel a panic attack coming on? There are doctor-approved tips that work (and don't involve blowing into a paper bag).
• "I felt sick all the time, and then realized it was actually anxiety."
• Men often hide their anxiety behind these tell-tale behaviors.

A Strong Woman, a Comic by Valentine Gallardo:

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