Don't give the troubled person false assurance Persons in trouble desperately want to be reassured, and all our instincts urge us to give that reassurance. The kind of reassurance that persons in grave difficulty need is not the meaningless comfort that the crisis will take care of itself, but rather our belief that they will be strong enough to work it out even if it is not all right. Lend a shoulder as an equal, instead of reassuring, as a parent would do. This provides the important assurance that you have faith in their ability to handle the crisis. The body influences emotions and mental functions.
People are particularly likely to be upset when they are hungry or tired.
Encourage some form of exercise to the point of fatigue. When persons are upset, they may tell intimate secrets, then be sorry they did. If you are listening to a friend's troubles, try not to lead her or him into revealing information he or she might later regret. If your friends and relatives do mention an egregious act, try to show that you care for them as precious human beings regardless of past actions. Valuing everyone is basic to the philosophy of helping others.