My roommate deals with a lot of anxiety, which has been amplified due to COVID lockdown/restrictions. I try to be there as much as I can, but I work quite a bit and unfortunately am dealing with my own mental wellbeing and worry I am not giving the best advice to them.

They have a support system but everything is long distance now (their partner lives across the country and their friends are mostly essential workers). I buy treats and distract us with boardgames when I can, but is there anything else I can do?

How does one properly 'check in' with an anxious person? Is acknowledging the anxiety better than distracting from it?