2 Ways Giving Advice Can Make Someone Feel Worse

Psychology Today | 08.05.2026 21:20
Imagine someone you care about is having a hard time. Maybe they’re going through a painful breakup, trudging through a stalled career, or trying to come to terms with a difficult diagnosis. They tell you about it, and somewhere in the middle of their story, you feel the very familiar pressure to be useful. To offer something, or say something comforting, that helps.