When someone is going through a difficult time, it can be easy for them to feel helpless, desperate, and vulnerable.

Being there for someone during difficulty is one of the most important parts of being a good friend, partner, or family member. But how can you be there for someone when they need it the most? We all hear about how we should “be there” for our loved ones when needed. However, nobody is defining what it means to actually “be there” for someone in difficulty.

That’s why in today’s article we will go through how you can help someone when they are experiencing something difficult or a tough time. And, what you can do for them to admit that you have “been there” for them when they needed it most.

Different ways that you can be there for someone in difficulty:

1- Support them by listening and being present:

Some people may say that they don’t know what to say or do when somebody is going through something hard. The best thing you can do is to just listen and try to understand what the person is feeling because it will help them feel less alone and more understood.

Other people may also find it hard to know how to act when someone is suffering visibly in front of our eyes or is in distress or in pain. Check this article out later to understand whether crying helps a person to move on and get over something painful or not.

In any case, if someone is in distress in your presence: try physical contact, or try hugging them. Or if you’re not a tactile person you can try holding their hand, if they seem like they need it when they’re talking.

It is important to let the person know that you are going to give them the time they need, be physically present, and listen until they say everything they have to say. It is important to reassure them that everything will be alright and that you are going to be physically present there for them.

2- Offer help without judgment:

It is important to be there for someone when they are experiencing difficulty by offering help when you can. It doesn’t always have to be in person, but it is important to reach out even if it’s by phone in case you live in different countries or cities. You can offer different types of help, such as emotional support, a listening ear, or even financial help if you can afford to.

It is important that you don’t try to judge the situation or judge them and their actions in these tough times they’re going through because you don’t know everything. For this reason, you should try not to tell them what they should do either because they know themselves and their situation best.

You can offer help in the many ways mentioned above but make sure you only offer advice if they ask for it. Instead, you can offer your support with whatever things or actions that they decided to do even if you don’t agree with them. That’s because they know better what suits them and what they need, so trust their judgment and be there to support in whatever capacity you have rather than judge.

3- Have patience:

It’s natural to want to fix the problem for the person you care about and make it go away. But sometimes the best thing we can do is just be there for someone in their time of need.

Sometimes when we get involved in someone else’s business, we might get ahead of ourselves and want to show them or tell them what they should do and reinforce it or impose it on them. Your advice is great, but don’t force people to do anything they don’t want to because it could backfire and you’d be heartbroken to have made things worse for them.

Maybe there are details you’re not aware of, that’s why the person that qualifies the most to solve a problem is the person who has that problem. So be there and be patient, as they might get stressed, cranky, or aggressive. Be understanding and stick by their side during thick and thin. When they come back to their senses they will surely understand all and be apologetic and grateful.

4- Get them external professional help if needed:

Sometimes it’s best to give them some space and allow them time to process the event, they’re going through themselves. However, if you think they cannot be left alone even for a short amount of time then you may need to push them to get help from an outside source such as a therapist or counselor.

It is important to tell someone that they need to seek professional help if you think they are in a desperate situation.

In the end, you can check this article too for 10 ways to be the reason that someone smiles today. If you’re committed to making someone’s life better, while they’re going through tough times.