Try something like, “Hey, what’s going on? I can tell you’re upset. I promise I won’t judge you; I just want to know how I can help. ”
You might say, “That sounds really tough. How are you doing?” Or, “You’re handling things really well. How are you feeling?”
Put away any distractions and give your friend your full attention while you two chat. Nod along and make eye contact to show that you’re listening and encourage them to talk more.
Say something like, “It makes sense that you’d feel that way,” or, “I totally understand where you’re coming from. ”
You could also try, “This sounds really hard—I’m sorry. ”
You might say, “I understand how you’re feeling. When I broke up with my girlfriend, I was so sad that I barely got out of bed for a week. ”
You can ask by simply saying, “Is there anything I can do?” or, “What would make you feel better right now?”
You can send a quick text that says, “Hey, just checking in. How are you feeling today?” Or, “I’m in the neighborhood, wondering if I could stop by. ”
You could also tell your friend to take a walk, play with a pet, have food delivered, or read a good book.
Bring it up by saying something like, “Hey, I’m heading to the store later. Is there anything I could grab for you while I’m there?” Or, “You’re probably feeling pretty drained. Why don’t you rest while I clean up a little?”
If you can’t get together in person, try watching a movie “together” virtually via Netflix’s or Hulu’s Watch Party feature.
You could also order your friend takeout and have it delivered to their home.
If you live far away from your friend, Venmo them a couple of dollars and tell them to go buy a coffee or a fun pastry.
You might say something like, “Just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking about you, and I love you!”
You can gently suggest this by saying something like, “Hey, I noticed you still seem pretty down. Have you ever considered counseling? I’ve done it before, and it really helped me when I was going through a tough time. ”
