How to help someone to get over their anxiety?

[lame_name]

a friend of mine has anxiety real bad, he cannot talk to people or need lots of time to prepare make himself comfortable around something which sounds normal to some people.
but i have noticed and he told me this has been going on for years and its affecting his quality of life.
i try my best to listen and hang out with him and be nice but still i think he should seek for professional help as I have gone through this before.
but he was telling me he has wanted to talk to a doctor, but some just didn't act like they care/he can't talk to them/anxious feeling comes and goes away before he can go.
i have encouraged him to eat healthy, try quitting smoke and alcohol but not sure if he is doing any of these, i said i will help you whenever you need.
i dont want him to avoid those feeling because i know mental issue is something sticks with you the whole life, but at the moment he is not seeking help.
what can i do?

Updates

+1 y

just a bit more information, i went to his place last week, he got drunk so much and ended up i had to stop him, we then fell asleep in the loungeroom without blanket coz he is a lot taller and heavier than me i couldnt get him to the bedroom,. and i noticed that he was crying/sobbing in the of the night, am not sure if this got anything to do with he recent lost of his dad.

Updates

+1 y

in the middle of the night*

[Aeracura]

DO tell him to call you anytime, anywhere. Talking on the phone and knowing someone is there to pick up can actually be incredibly comforting to him that is trying to control their anxiety. Anxiety can make him feel lost and alone. Knowing that someone is a phone call away reduces that feeling.

[apexalpha]

social anxiety can be broken by doing things outside the comfort zone and getting used to it

[Anonymous]

Get a prescription for an SSRI