If Someone You Love Is Having a Hard Time, Listen to This

Learn how to truly help someone you love.

When someone you care about is going through a difficult time, you can make a meaningful difference with a few simple words.

Today, clinical psychologist and three-time New York Times bestselling author Dr. Lisa Damour teaches you how to offer the right kind of support for your kid, partner, or friend without panicking, taking control, or trying to fix everything.

You’ll learn 3 questions that help you understand whether someone needs to vent, needs more support, or may need professional help.

Dr. Damour also explains why painful emotions are not always a sign that something is wrong, how to recognize when coping has become harmful, and why giving advice before understanding what someone needs can backfire.

This episode is one of Mel’s favorite conversations on The Mel Robbins Podcast, and she’s bringing it back with a brand new introduction and new insights for right now.

In it, Mel gets personal about supporting her husband through depression, parenting teenagers through intense emotions, and the mistakes she made when she tried to solve every problem.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

-The exact words to use when someone shuts down or pushes you away

-Why the advice you give can make someone feel worse

-How to respond when someone is drinking, using substances, self-harming, or avoiding life

-How to listen so the person feels supported

-The simple question to ask when someone is venting

-How to stay calm when someone you love is overwhelmed

-The 3 questions to ask when someone you love is struggling

-How to tell the difference between normal stress and a serious mental health concern

-The two warning signs that someone may need professional support

-When and how to ask directly about suicide or self-harm

-How to suggest therapy without making someone feel broken

By the time you finish listening, you’ll know what to say, what not to say, and how to show up for someone you love.

For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page.

If you liked the episode, check out this one next: How to Motivate Yourself (and Others) to Change Any Behavior

Mel also wants to tell you:

• Try the 23g protein shot I drink every single morning
• Join 2 million readers loving my weekly newsletter - full of tips, tools, and inspiration
• The Let Them Theory: read the book everyone’s talking about
• Watch the episodes on YouTube
• Connect with me on Instagram
• Follow the show’s Instagram for clips, behind the scenes, and more
• Find some daily positivity on my TikTok
• Want zero ads? Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-free
• Disclaimer

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.