Five Kind Ways To Comfort A Friend In Need
We all love spending time with our friends, we know them like the back of our hand, make each other laugh and love them completely with all of their flaws. But when they’re having a tough time, it can be hard to know how to be there for them, no matter how much we want to. Do they need space or should you call every day? Although a friend may not be able to tell you what they need when they’re struggling, there are things you can do to let them know you’re there and help them feel supported through their troubles:
Bring Them Food
When we’re feeling low, it is common to turn to food as a source of comfort. We all have our own favourites, mine is chocolate-covered cornflakes and one of my best friends craves ice cream when she’s down. If someone close to you has been suffering from an illness, is stressed, sad or just going through a rough patch, they may not feel up to buying or cooking feel-good food. Going to the trouble of making or finding them something you know is guaranteed to cheer them up, will make them feel cared for. You don’t even have to meet up, you can simply pop it through their letterbox or you could even order them a Deliveroo! Salted fudge caramel sundae anyone?
Leave Them A Voice Message
Sometimes, when we’re going through a challenging time, we don’t have the energy to speak to anyone, even the people we care most about. This doesn’t mean that we don’t want to hear from our close ones though! If your friend is not returning your texts or calls, don’t take it personally. Instead leave them a voicemail or a send them video message to tell them that you miss them and that they’re in your thoughts. A word of caution, try to keep it caring and not a detailed description of what they’re missing out on or your well-intended message may have the opposite effect.
Lend a Helping Hand
If you get a chance to spend time with your friend, find out if there’s anything they are having trouble with and look for a way to lighten their load. It could be something small like composing a text to someone they’ve been struggling to communicate with or doing the washing up. Or something a little more involved, like taking their smart clothes to the dry cleaners before a big meeting. Whether you are sick or feeling down, even the smallest task can feel overwhelming. Giving your friend a hand with something they’ve been putting off, will lessen the weight on their shoulders and help them to feel more in control.
Send Them a Card
There are situations that can make being there for your friends trickier, especially if they have moved to a different town or country. If someone close to you is having a hard time and they are living or staying abroad, there are still ways that you can be there for them. Time differences can make calling problematic, but you can always write! A hand-written note when you are down can be as soothing as a home cooked meal and will be appreciated. Even if you need to send something quickly, there are ways to send everything from empathy to birthday cards in your own handwriting and have them in the destination country’s mail in minutes!
Distract Them
When you live close to your friend, an easy way to bring them some relief is simply to distract them from whatever they are going through. Depending on how they are feeling, you can do a variety of things. If they are up for something outdoors, you could take them to a yoga or dance class to get their endorphins flowing and take their mind off their problems for a little while. If they aren’t feeling energetic, suggest a movie night or sleep over and swoon over your favourite crush. Or if it’s daytime, you could give each other a DIY mani/pedi. It’s almost impossible not to feel a little bit better with a bright colour on your nails.
If your friend is struggling, the most important thing is just to show them that you care. These little gestures may seem small, but could be that little ray of sunshine that she or he really needs. Is there something that you have done for a friend that they really appreciated? Or perhaps it was something a friend did for you? Please share them in the comments, we’d love to hear them!
There’s are so many ways one can extend kindness to our friends and the best ways tend to be the most obvious. X
It’s so hard when you see a friend going through a difficult time in their life. These are some great ideas for comforting a friend in need.
It really is horrible isn’t it 🙁 you can feel so useless as well.
I just recently watch 13 reasons why and I totally saw a great need for people to be able to talk and even comfort each other. Love this post and totally thank you for sharing this. Will pass along to friends too.
My friends are very good at distracting me when I’m feeling down – mostly with junk food (nachos and pizza are our things) and rom coms 🙂 x
These are good tips I have friend who’s become wheelchair bound and like myself suffers anxiety disorder I just sent her a handmade card and a little Angel wing pendant to let her know I’m always thinking of her as I can’t always be there with her but do keep in touch.
Aww I love this – what a lovely thing to do it really can make someones day to have something like that turn up.
These are actually useful suggestions. I appreciate cards and food when I am in need of support.
It is lovely to just get something that makes you think people are thinking of you, doesn’t it.
These are such great ways to offer comfort to a friend. Sometimes friends need your help and comfort, and these are some great ways to help.
They do don’t they, from personal experience even just a text saying hello, thinking of you (you don’t need to reply – just needed you to know) type thing can be amazing.
These are all sweet ways indeed to comfort a friend. Another one could just be a tight hug which would release the stress and know that you are with them.
There is nothing like a good hug sometimes.
Such sweet ideas to comfort someone who is need. I love bringing something especially something sweet !!
There is nothing like a good sweet something when you aren’t feeling so good.
There is nothing that makes me feel better than to help a friend in need. It just goes to reaffirm that you are a great friend and that you will be there for them.
Totally true, when you are ill long term as well it is hard as you do see friends fall away so it is good to know you have ones who stand close by you.
These are some great ideas to comfort a friend in need, I’m sure they’d appreciate it.
Lovely post. I do like to cheer up my friends with food. Food soothes the soul. Elinor x
It really does, especially when it is something sweet or cakey.
I love these ideas, I think bring them food is probably the one I use the most. I am great at buying cards, but hopeless at getting them as far as the post box x
I am so glad I’m not the only one who does that, I’ve found Christmas cards unsent months after Christmas before.
These are all great kind ways to comfort a friend in need. I actually just took a friend in because she lost her home and had nowhere to go. Sending a video message is indeed a great way to comfort a friend too. Thanks for sharing the tips.
Aww what a lovely thing to do for your friend <3
Such great tips! sometimes just lending a ear to listen without judgement is all someone needs. I wish more people sent actual cards now days. It seems like a lost art anymore.
Most definitely, sometimes all you need is a good friend to let you let loose on them.
Thoughtful and kind words of advice. Friendships can go through all kinds of emotions, it is so hard to know that someone you care so much about is hurting or in need. Sometimes it is the little things that help the most. Lovely.
I totally agree, it is amazing to know you have the support of people you love behind you.
These are wonderful tips – I used to be a great friends and do all these little pick me ups. But as I age, I do less ad less, my kids take all my attention, sadly. thanks for the reminder.
This really are great tips. Sometimes people are afraid to make the situation worse, so they do nothing at all.
I totally agree, it is hard to know what to do sometimes.
Love all of these ideas! I find myself wanting to help when someone I know is going through a hard time but I do not know where to start. Thanks for the ideas!
Aww hopefully these help you then 🙂
these are great ways to comfort a friend in need… I really love the sending a letter/card/note, it’s personal and shows you took time and thought to write it out. The others listed are awesome as well and would lift up mood.
It is just such a small touch, but one that can mean so much to people. x
This is such a great post. I love the ideas for sure. All of them are perfect and for sure to make a day much better when a friend needs a bit of comfort for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Hopefully they help people feel a bit more able to help a friend.
100% good (comfort/junk!) food and a lovely hand written letter can make anyone feel better, such a lovely post 🙂 xx
Totally with you on that, there is nothing like a good selection of junk food.
Aww love this post. Distracting a friend and food are two good ones…which for me mean taking a friend out for a mate date dinner 🙂 x
Distracting is definitely something that works so well for me, it can make me feel so much better.
These are great ideas. I love getting calls from my friends when I least expect them. I definitely need to reach out in one of these sweet ways.
There is something uplifting about knowing a friend is thinking of you. x
These are great suggestions for comforting a friend in need. When my mom died, lots of my friends brought us food.
It is amazing how having something like that done can ease the pressure.
These are great ideas for helping out friends in need! Especially for new moms, a helping hand and food would be awesome, even if it just means a little bit of house chores here and there.
Yes! It can really make all the difference just to have some of the must do jobs taken away from you.
These are some very thoughtful and kind gestures that would be really appreciated.
These are great tips and sadly I’ve had to use them all over time x
It is a shame people get to that point, but always great they have friends like you to help 🙂 x
These are great tips. I always make soup for them. That way they can eat it or freeze it for later.
That is such a lovely idea, I always find soup great in a time of need as it is so easy to eat.
I truly believe that food is a kind way to comfort a friend. Many times, food is the last thought in mind for them so treating them during a difficult time is thoughtful.
Great points on comforting a friend. We all need somebody to talk to, to listen to, to be able to help and be helped
These are all great tips. My favorite is always trying to distract them and also help them with whatever it is they need as far as their daily chores. I always bring food over also because it really is very helpful.
The little daily chores can make all the difference as it is one less thing to think about and stress over.
These are all great ways to comfort a friend. I would add, just be willing to sit with them. Sometimes you just need quiet company!
Yes that is very true, sometimes just having someone else around can mean so much.
This is all such good advice. I wrote a post similar to this one a few years ago. I’ve also learned not to ask them if they need anything. Just do something for them. All of these things help.
It is hard as you want to do something they need, but the answer is always no and so just doing is so much more.