One of things I like most about Yuri on Ice is how they handle Yuri’s anxiety
I like that Victor showing up didn’t magically fix Yuri’s anxiety disorder. In fact it takes the first four episodes before their relationship is developed enough that Victor is a real help. As they get to know and trust each other Yuri starts getting a better grip on his anxiety but it takes time.
Yes Victor has helped and Yuri has gotten better at dealing with it but it’s also the way he’s helped and what it means to their relationship.
Look lets compare Episode 7 Yuri to Episode 9.
In episode 7 Yuri is having a very public and very obvious meltdown thanks to anxiety as we can see here:
He is shaking and and a mess. I think he’s only this obviously anxious because Victor is there. It’s not that Victor is making him more anxious. This is always how Yuri would have felt it’s that because Yuri is comfortable around Victor he’s able to show his anxiety.
Or more to the point. Yuri can’t really hide his anxiety from Victor at this point even if he tries and he knows that deep down so he’s not putting much energy into trying.
We know from the first episode Yuri tries to hide what he’s really feeling. Even from his family. Hence the crying in the bathroom.
I know cause this was me when I met my husband. Going back to episode 4 for a moment I really think the fact that Yuri knows he can’t really lie and hide his fear and anxiety from Victor is what makes him avoid him.
When I came to England for 6 months on a student visa before we got married it was the first time I was around my now husband for longer then a couple of weeks. What I quickly discovered was that he could see right through my bullshitting and lies that I was doing fine and that frankly my mask that I used to keep my anxiety from the world did not work on him.
It was fucking terrifying to me. My parents didn’t know the extent of my anxiety and depression, my doctors didn’t but this English guy I was dating did from day one and I found that as time went on it only became harder to hide it from him.
It was horrifying to me. I felt exposed and vulnerable in a way I was not ready for…but eventually I came to not only accept it but welcome it because the reason I couldn’t hide it from him and the reason he could see through me was because of the love we shared and reflected the level of trust I had in him.
That’s why Yuri is so openly a mess in front of Victor and everyone else in episode 7. Yes being the one to beat doesn’t help but the fact that he’s showing that emotion shows the trust he has in Victor.
I can further prove it because Episode 9 Yuri is actually just as anxious as episode 7.
That is in a lot of ways the same stressed out face but this is the extent of the anxiety we see on the surface with Yuri in episode 9. He’s not really shaking, He’s not covering his face and and bouncing his leg in anxiety. He’s just got a stressed expression. He’s able to get through the program but not at his best.
I also like the fact in episode 7 Yuri mentally chides Victor for not realising that Yuri’s anxiety issues are old news and that Yuri is used to it and Victor should be prepared to handle it.
In episode 9 he has a set back with his anxiety but one he is able to say would probably be just as bad with Victor there.
A lot of other stories especially ones that focus on the power of love would have Victor’s presence automatically get rid of Yuri’s anxiety but that doesn’t happen. We clearly see that Yuri keeps his problems but is better able to manage them when Victor is there to support him but not consistently because it’s not a consistent progress.
With the short program he’s got an established routine with Victor and a motivation that helps him through his anxiety but he’s not found that with the free skate yet so it’s harder for him to manage it.
As someone with chronic generalised anxiety disorder (aka I’m scared of practically everything) Yuri’s anxiety and how his relationship with the person he loves effects it feels very real and accurate. I can’t praise the show enough for showing someone with this sort of problem depicted in such an accurate way.
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