When friends and family need support it can be hard to know what to say. A friend confides, “It doesn’t matter what’s wrong; I just feel their stress and I’m at a loss for words.”
My friend isn’t alone. I don’t know anyone who feels perfectly comfortable dealing with a difficult situation. When emotions are running high, it’s hard not to feel them yourself. Despite past experiences or even training, it’s tough to function in a stressful environment without being impacted by the stress yourself.
So what can you do to extend support? You can help best by listening. The sick, bereaved, or troubled friend or family member needs to articulate how they feel. And it is a blessing if you can provide that outlet. Many people find comfort knowing that someone cares enough to hear them out. It is through telling our stories that we often make sense of what is happening in our lives.
In the end, it’s not often what we say, but what we do.
My friend isn’t alone. I don’t know anyone who feels perfectly comfortable dealing with a difficult situation. When emotions are running high, it’s hard not to feel them yourself. Despite past experiences or even training, it’s tough to function in a stressful environment without being impacted by the stress yourself.
So what can you do to extend support? You can help best by listening. The sick, bereaved, or troubled friend or family member needs to articulate how they feel. And it is a blessing if you can provide that outlet. Many people find comfort knowing that someone cares enough to hear them out. It is through telling our stories that we often make sense of what is happening in our lives.
In the end, it’s not often what we say, but what we do.
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