How can I talk to my family about my anxiety without them getting mad?

We cannot control other's emotions - if they chose to be angry, that's their decision. It might not be a fair decision, but it is theirs to make.

Anxiety (or any clinically diagnosed mental illness) can be stigmatized against. People might not take it well. Having said that, let's take a moment to applaud the fact that you want to tell your family about your anxiety instead of hiding it. It's more likely than not that your family will express shock, denial and concern when you give them the news. The point I'm trying to make is that you cannot change the way they feel. If they get mad when you tell them, you can't change the way they feel. What you can change and what is within your control, however, is your response to their reaction. Remember, they might "react", but you might want to "respond". Stay calm because you have enough anxiety in your life already. Telling somebody about your anxiety shouldn't cause you more anxiety.

Be open with them. Tell your family members how you really feel. You're feeling anxious they may react with anger, but I promise you - if you show your vulnerability to anyone, people will appreciate and respect you more. Don't put blame on anyone and just say how you feel "I'm feeling so anxious all the time, I could use the support" or "I really am a hard time with this, I feel anxious all the time, I could really use your support" By staying honest to yourself, your family will respect and reflect your feelings. They will MIRROR how you feel, it's biological. You'll feel better too. Remember, stay honest, avoid pointing fingers, and ask for support. You will get so much more than you expect.

I have had anxiety for most of my life. It runs in my family. Talking about anxiety and defining its causes can be hard but it can be done. More people have anxiety than we think. I have found that understanding what my family may be going through as well helped me. For example, perhaps they didn't know I had anxiety (or something is bothering me) and did not know how to approach me. If they did know, they might not have known how to help. If they had no clue, I used this opportunity to sit them down, explain the fact that I have anxiety, why I believed I have anxiety and ask for their help to work through the issues as a family. I found in my past situation, my family was loving and understanding. I was shocked to hear that other members in my family struggled with that too. I feel the best approach is to stay calm, be honest, and ask for their support, or encouragement to find support from non-family.