How do you console or comfort a very sad friend?

Philippines
December 1, 2008 1:29am CST
When your friend broke up with her/his partner, or lost a partner, or is grieving over a deceased relative, how do you comfort your friend? It is easier for me to comfort a friend who broke up with a partner that to comfort somebody grieving over the death of a loved one.
5 responses
@riyasam (16556)
• India
1 Dec 08
hi,i think it is better to be around and help her talk about her loss than givng a sermon.
• Philippines
15 Dec 08
Being physically present with a grieving or sad friend is somewhat pain relieving. The assurance that we are there for them in times of deep sorrow helps them ease their sadness.
• China
1 Dec 08
I think it is not easy to comfort a very sad friend,especially who lost their lover because of different reason. I just make they concentrate on the other happy or busy things ,they will have no time to feel sad.
• Philippines
15 Dec 08
You're right. Conforting a very sad friend isn't that easy.
@heart98 (57)
• Philippines
1 Dec 08
i let myself be a sounding board, i listen and let her cry for a while then i encourage her to move on with her life.
• Philippines
15 Dec 08
Lending your ears to listen is a great source of easing the pain in one's heart. It will lessen their sadness.
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
1 Dec 08
When a friend of mine broke up with her boyfriend, I comfort her by staying beside her and listening on her.I gave her some advices to somehow make her move on.I always keep on sending her messages on her phone so that she will not feel the sadness too much.I also asked her to go to malls and introduce her some stuffs which I know is of her interest.On the other hand, when my friend lost her father due to a sickness, there is nothing I can do but to show her that I am just beside her and I am always ready to listen.
• Philippines
15 Dec 08
Listening and being there for your friend is one of the best way to console a friend. our presence somehow eases the sadness in our friend's heart.
@mcfuddy (382)
• United States
1 Dec 08
i hang with them for a bit and let them be sad then i start to tell them how its a good thing (they are in a better place, he/she was a scum ball anyway) then i relate by saying somthing thats worse then what they went threw (even if i lie) and it ends with then smiling even if just for a sec then you slowly change subject and help them move on..... but thts just me
• Philippines
15 Dec 08
That's a good way of comforting your friend. Sometimes we do all the thing we can just to make our friends smile even if it will cost us to lie.