Well, I am happy to report that I DO have a significant other who tries his darndest to be supportive and encouraging.

He seems to understand my anxieties and what triggers them.

The thing is he is desperate to help and take the pain away and wants so very badly to learn from me how to go about this. I of course have no answers for him which frustrates him about my illness. He witnesses me go through at times excruciating distress and feels helpless to alleviate the pain and fear. I in turn feel badly myself because I have no answers for him. "Just be there for me as I crumble each morning and evening and let me know you care" is the best I can come up with.

So my question is, are any partners out there actually able to help? I don't mean just being present and encouraging, I mean is there anything they do that takes away the anxiety?