#ava0426

NEWT

lowkey as someone whos dealt with depression and suicidal thoughts, he probably has the most experience when it comes to anxiety

he'll listen to you ramble about what you're freaking out about if he doesn't have any previous context and just stare at you with understanding eyes

makes you feel so heard and seen that hes not undermining you

he hits you with hard facts even though he knows it may not be the worlds best outcome, but he also wants you to know that he has your back

anything you fear, he'll protect you from it. the grievers, wckd, the flare, he'll protect you no matter what

he honestly seems like the type to tear up about it later when hes alone, sitting somewhere private and staring up at the sky

hes not the type who can handle seeing his best friend/s / partner in a constant state of fear / straight up breaking down

he doesn't understand how he's getting through it, so he doesn't know what to really say, but he knows how to use words of affirmation and physical comfort to his advantage

MINHO

i genuinely hc that minho has clinical anxiety and masks it with being tough / a quick thinker, aka when he feels a terrible wave incoming, he tries to do something to distract himself or tries to mask it

and he knows this isnt healthy, but he also doesn't like breaking down and being vulnerable

he ran through that maze filled with death machines nearly every day for three years, he's fought back with guns and pure speed, endured torture he doesn't even remember

so he sort of doesn't really know how to help someone else when they're having a full fledged panic / anxiety attack

he'll listen and try to tell you everythings okay, but hes constantly apologizing cause he doesnt really know how to help you

he'll 100% listen and try to make it better, but sometimes his efforts are futile

he tries thinking of what he'd like to hear when he's in this state, and realizes he'd just want a hug and a push to keep going, so he starts giving you some talk to boost your confidence and hugs

the effort really makes it like mean something you know???

even if its not what you need, it helps

GALLY

gally knows no fear bro /hj

he'll listen and comfort you, but in dire times he doesnt have time cause like... he doesnt want either of you to die so he'll just scoop you up and run with you if you can't

like he's seen you freeze in fear and just like... look like youre shutting down, so hes not risking shit

he knows theres a lot of shit running through your mind, so he'll never ever try to assume how you feel or try to say stupid shit

his only real way he knows works for you is like physical comfort or just distracting you

he'll remind you of funny memories or he'll carry certain items around just for you to fuck with, old bandanas, some sticks tied together in a circle-y shape, etc, like handmade apocolypse fidget toys

sometimes he'll just straight up draw on you with pens / markers hes found and kept from the last city / wckd bases

FRYPAN

hes a sit down and listen guy

hes mostly the kind of person youd go to when you just need someone to listen to you and wrap you in a tight ass hug

he understands grounding is like one of the things you definitely need when you're super anxious / in the middle of an attack

sometimes he'll just pick you up and spin around so you can get your mind off whatevers bothering you especially if its small / dealing with other people in the glade or safe haven

he'll literally start out asking if you just want his presence and don't want him to talk and just listen or if you want him to respond and help you

BRENDA

she'll typically debunk your fears / give you some words of affirmation

she understands your fear, especially since shes been surviving this world for so long, and a lot of it on her own

she doesnt want to persay debunk, but help you see the light and help you understand your brain is making you see things differently

she says things as they are / is kinda blunt but like it sorta helps

shes never gonna tell you sunshine and rainbows but shell also never tell you that someones gonna die or the flare is gonna reach the safe haven, cause its not gonna happen

shes keeping it real

if you want cuddles / physical affection she'll literally drop anything and everything

anything to make you feel even the slightest bit better

shes also just generally tough and masks her emotions / saves it for private time so she lowk speaks for you both

like gives you both a pep talk while you're the one crying. she'll stop and dwell and think and continue cause shes like "damn i guess i needed this too"

ARIS

hes shy and probably has social anxiety but that doesnt mean he has general anxiety and I'll stand on that

but i also feel like hed be very good at just general comfort cause he sorta derealizes his trauma and picks it apart

in another life hes a therapist or psychologist

but with picking his trauma apart comes some panic / anxiety attacks / mental breakdowns

so he uses those as reference when it comes to comforting you. like his brain thought process is when I solve certain math problems, like you know certain pieces so with that you just kinda mentally understand other parts yk?

lots of words of affirmation

if you need physical comfort you literally have to grab his hands and wrap them around you

he is an open shoulder to cry on, but he'll also feel a little awkward because he doesnt know if hes helping you feel better or not even if you specifically say youre crying because youre grateful for him and that he understands you / is trying to help

hes moreso nervous / doesnt wanna do anything to make you upset and in his mind crying = sad

he processes emotions weirdly / cannot understand them sometimes

lowkey feel like he could be an undiagnosed autistic im ngl

SONYA

very much a physical comfort giver

a hug is all she ever wanted when she was in her lowest, so she treats you and others how she wants / wanted to be treated

gives the most comforting back rubs and whispers sweet nothings into your ear, even if youre not romantic or not

she usually tries to bring comfort and distract you from whatever youre worrying about

like she'll remind you of good memories, find something for you to fidget with or break, etc

if youre like mid battle / trying to outrun cranks, she'll either find a way to hide you or with all her strength, pick you up and carry you to a safer location

nothing is stopping her when it comes to protecting you

HARRIET

another whos just open ears and down to listen

a lot of the time she doesnt say anything, she just sits with you and allows you to soak her prescence in

she doesnt wanna overwhelm you so she doesnt wanna act fast or say / do something that might make it worse

sometimes she'll just sit with you for hours and allow you to get it all out before speaking

she knows trying to de-escalate too fast can still be harmful and she doesnt want you to start masking / bottling your emotions up, so she allows a good cry before she does anything unless you demand it

she'll then give a long hug and assure you everything will be alright and let you play with her locs to get your kind off whatevers bothering you