Crisis Care – 5 Ways To Help A Friend Who’s Going Through A Crisis

When someone you love is going through something major, it’s hard to know how to help them. One friend might be going through a divorce, while another may need to vacate her apartment immediately because it’s infested with bedbugs. You might even have a family member who’s been diagnosed with cancer. Any of these situations could be considered crises as they disrupt routine and change the way we live our lives. When you’re a friend on the outside, it can be difficult to know what to do to help, but luckily, the list below includes several things you can do to support a friend going through a crisis.

1. Ask How You Can Help

We often try to help others in ways we would like to be helped ourselves. While this tactic is well-intentioned, it’s not always the right way to go. If you’re unsure how to support your friend, come right out and ask what you can do to help.

If your friend has experienced a major financial setback, for example, they may appreciate a no interest loan with flexible repayment terms. Sometimes, just being there for someone is helpful enough.

2. Listen. Don’t Advise or Judge

One of the most important things you can do to help a friend in need is to listen. It’s easy to judge, and it’s tempting to offer advice, but the last thing your friend needs is to feel as if they’ve done something wrong. Unless you’re asked for it, don’t offer advice. Just listen.

Let your friend know you’re there for them in any way they need. This is particularly important in break-up or divorce situations where there may be two sides to the story. You don’t know what really happened, so you should keep your opinions and advice to yourself.

3. Push the Positives (Tactfully)

This may seem like an obvious point, but finding the positive in a situation can be challenging, especially if your friend is excessively negative. Try to find something – anything – that’s positive about the situation and run with it. It may be possible that your friend is so consumed by the negative side of things that they can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. As someone outside of the situation, you can point out the silver linings they may have missed. Just be tactful with this as excessive positivity can make people feel like they’re not being truly understood.

4. Let Your Friend Know You’re Thinking About Them

While it’s impossible to be with your friend 24 hours a day, you can let them know you’re thinking about them by sending them something thoughtful. For example, you might send a gift hamper filled with things you know they like.

Of course, your thoughtfulness doesn’t have to be a physical gift. You can also send ecards, song lyrics, poems, or articles that speak to what your friend is going through.

5. Know Your Limits

At the end of the day, you are one person who can only do so much, and you need to remember that. While it may be difficult to watch someone you care for go through something devastating, you can’t fix everything. You can only be there for them and show love.

Everyone goes through a crisis at some point or another, and it can be hard watching someone you love go through theirs. Wanting to help is a normal reaction, but knowing what to do can be a challenge. If you have a friend in crisis, use the suggestions listed above to offer help.