5 Tips for When a Friend is in Need

Navigating a friend's difficult day requires a delicate balance of empathy, understanding, and effective communication. In times of struggle, the right words and gestures can provide comfort and support, while the wrong ones may unintentionally exacerbate the situation. These 5 tips aims to offer insights into the art of communicating with a friend during challenging times.

Here are 5 tips for when a friend is in need.

1. Make it about them, not you. How often does someone share something and the other person says that same thing happened to them or worse they bring up something that is hard for them vs focusing on the person in need.

2. Ask them what would help. This seems obvious, however, we are all different and assuming how to help could actually make it worse.

3. Be empathetic. Put yourself in that person's situation and try to understand the whole picture, not just what happened. It might not be a big deal to you but, for your friend, it could feel catastrophic.

4. Hold ooff on giving advice. Just listen and don’t give advice unless they ask. Too often we want to jump straight to solutions.

5. Follow up the next day—even a week later. If something bad happens, it's not usually fixed overnight. Keep an eye on the calendar and make a reminder to check in.