Watching someone you care about struggle can be equally challenging.
One mistake she points to is ignoring the hard thing your friend is going through.
Avoid this pitfall and simply tell them that youre there for them.
Just focus on the emotions.
Then, reflect these emotions back to your friend and check that they know that their feelings are valid.
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More often than not, people will be in need of practical help, Blackall says.
These gestures do double duty of showing the person that you care and taking tasks off of their plate.
Be quiet, and metaphorically or literally hold their hand while they cry.
Do, however, ask if they want you to be there.
And its important to ask them if they feel comfortable being held or touched.
But if theyre open to it, offering physical closeness can be very helpful.
Focus on Today
Each time you see your friend, Blackall recommends asking How are you today?
instead of a more vague How are you?
During a trying time, each day can feel very different.
Some days might feel really tough, while others might feel lighter.
It also sends the subtle message that its okay to feel different from day to day.
This will give your loved one the chance to talk about something else.
