Kendall Jenner Shares the Importance of Being an Ally to Those with Anxiety

In the third installment of ‘Open Minded,’ Jenner is joined by Dr. Curly Bonds, who explains how to step up as an ally for a loved one who is experiencing a panic attack or seems regularly anxious.

“When you're in the midst of a panic attack, the reason you're calling someone is one, because you're scared, you want some sort of comfort," says Kendall Jenner. "You might also want that distraction. And sometimes, as their supporter, you have to sit there and ride the wave with them."

For the third installment of Open Minded, Jenner is joined by Dr. Curly Bonds, chief medical officer at Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, who breaks down how to step up as an ally for a loved one who is experiencing a panic attack or seems regularly anxious. "First of all, we need to recognize that anxiety is really common," says Bonds. “The way to help as an ally is then to first recognize when someone is having usual anxiety and when it moves into where it is problematic and it interferes with their ability to function.”

The two go over some of the most common physical symptoms to look out for—elevated heart rate or heart palpitations, shortness of breath, feeling lightheaded—and the psychological ones that can be harder to pinpoint, such as overthinking. Bonds then explains that those who experience extreme anxiety might be inclined to isolate themselves as a way to avoid triggering situations. To help, he encourages allies to listen, as well as share their own experiences and coping strategies to normalize the medical condition. “When you experience someone else's anxiety through their eyes and [try] to put it through your lens, telling them, ‘hey I've had this and it will get better.’”

Watch episode 3 of Open Minded above. 

Directed by: Posy Dixon

DP: Kevin Hayden

Camera Operators: Yuya Kudo, Zachary Rockwood, and Sonja Tsypin

Key Grip/Gaffer: Kurtis Myers

Sound: Chris Omae

Edited by: Victoria Mortati and Daniel Poler

Color: Carlos Flores, Forager

Sound: Paul Vitolins and Nick Cipriano, Bang

Post Production: Marco Glinbizzi

Series Title Montage: Chris Beckman

Title Design: Jason Duzansky

Visual and Audio Design: Natalia Stuyk

Art Director, Set Design: Alexis Johnson

Decorator: Christine DiStefano

Styling: Danielle Levi

Hair: Amanda Capomaccio

Makeup: Mary Phillips

Tailor: Bebe Aguirre

Executive Producer: Marina Cukeric

Producers: Naomi Nishi, NY and Jace Davis, LA

Line Producers: Jen Santos and Jessica Schier

Production Manager: Trina DeMattei

Location Manager: Joe Burk

Production Coordinators: Peter Brunette and Andressa Pelachi

Associate Producers: Rachel Cantor, Stephanie D’agostini and Arielle Neblett

Production Assistant: Josh Crowe

COVID Supervisor: Carla Nora

Vogue: Robert Semmer, VP Digital Video Programming and Development; Mark Guiducci, Creative Editorial Director; Sergio Kletnoy, Entertainment Director.

Special Thanks to:

Derek Blasberg

Maya Amolis

Dr. Ramani Durvasula

Ashleah Gonzales

Christy Welder

Jessica Edwards

Barb Solish

Katrina Gay

Dr. Ken Duckworth

YouTube Health

Medcircle

NAMI The National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Michella Oré