My boyfriend thought I was the first person he'd ever met with mental health issues. Turns out I'm not. But of course, I knew that already - I know a lot of other people in the club, and nobody would ever know unless they spoke about it. 

After seven months of knowing me, I gave him the go-ahead to speak to his large group of friends and acquaintances (#JustSmallTownThings) about my severe anxiety and OCD. 

He's absolutely blown away by the number of people who've not only accepted me and love that I make him happy, and want to bring me into the fold and make accommodations for me - but the amount who have offered up their own stories of experiencing nasty anxiety. People he'd never have assumed are going through it. Especially his friends who have SOs with anxiety. 

If you feel comfortable with it, and think it would be helpful for your SO to have people to talk to in order to learn more about how this affects others and how their significant others deal with it (both with the person and with the inevitable stress and worry that comes with loving someone with severe anxiety), please encourage them to open up. 

It can be so helpful to not only them but you as well. More than you could ever imagine!