This is a collaborative post by Ellie Jo.
When a loved one is going through a difficult time, you want to help them as much as possible. Whether they’re a friend or a family member, it’s always hard to see the people you love struggle. This post will give you some ideas to help you help your loved one through this time so they can come back stronger than ever.
Listen To Them
Sometimes, all a loved one will need you to do is listen to them. Make sure you listen to them without judgment. This is so important if you want them to continue confiding in you and seeing you as a safe space. Listening doesn’t mean you have to chime in with your own stories, or even offer advice necessarily. Just listening to them let it all out can be a huge relief.
Make Them A Comfort Box
How about making your loved one a comfort box full of things that might make them smile a little? Include things like favorite snacks, face masks, DVDs, silly putty – anything that might lift their spirits for a short while. This will also show them how much you care.
Get Them Help
Perhaps what your loved one really needs is professional help. Talk to them about it and see how they feel. They may need help with bereavement, or some kind of addiction. People struggle with different things. Looking at a site like www.beachway.com could help you to figure out the best course of action to take and get your loved one on the road to feeling better.
Give Them Your Undivided Attention
Give your loved one your undivided attention for a while. Why not take them on a coffee date, or out for lunch? You could even just relax with them and watch a film, as long as they know you’re there. Don’t spend the time on your phone, not really being there with them. Be present and they will appreciate it.
Remind Them Of The Positive Stuff
Remind your loved one of the positive stuff. Make sure you pick your moments because sometimes just listening to them is enough and they won’t want to hear positives at that time. Remind them of the positives to come out of a negative situation. It could also be worth reminding them that nothing lasts forever and that they’ve handled tough times before. Just make sure you don’t discount their experiences or feelings. They need to feel heard and valued.
Run Some Errands For Them
Perhaps whatever the problem is has left your loved one with anxiety, and they have difficulty getting out of bed and doing the things they would usually do. How about running some errands for them? Doing something as simple as their food shop could really help them out and make them feel a little better.
Write Them A Letter
Maybe your loved one needs some kind words. Why not write them a letter telling them how you feel about them, reminding them of all of the great things about them and their lives?
