Seeing someone cry can be difficult especially when you know the person or care about them. At that moment, your natural instincts encourage you to do everything in your power to help them feel better. However, you might not always know what you should do and what you shouldn’t.
Of course, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you should approach the person with care and sensitivity. Everything else will fall into place on its own. With that being said, here are 5 dos and don’ts that you may follow.
1) Offer Comfort And Support
This is obviously the first thing you should do when someone is crying. You should sit with them and offer comfort and support. If it is a loved one or someone you know, you may embrace them, hold their hand or just sit in silence. Sometimes, just being present can be enough for the other person to feel better and reassured. So, just let them know that you are there with them, no matter what.
2) Do Not Dismiss Their Feelings
When a person cries, it is only obvious that they feel really bad about something. Now, in such a case, you shouldn’t dismiss their feelings or try to play them down. So, don’t say things like, “It’s not that bad,” or “You are overreacting.” If you dismiss their feelings, they will feel unsupported and even more hurt. Even if you don’t understand their emotions, you should try to be supportive.
3) Listen To What They Have To Say
If the other person is crying and sharing how they are feeling, you should actively listen to what they have to say. This can help the person feel heard and understood, which can provide relief. It’s okay if you don’t understand exactly why they are crying or what they are going through. Just acknowledge what they are saying and be empathetic. You can also ask open-ended questions to show your interest.
4) Respect Their Boundaries
While you might be trying to comfort the person who is crying, it is also important to respect their boundaries and give them space if they need it. It might be that they don’t want to talk about their feelings at the moment or even be comforted, for that matter. If that’s the case, you should respect their wishes and take a step back. However, you should still let them know that you are there for them if they need you.
5) Do Not Try To Fix Things
Your natural instinct might be to fix things for the other person so that they stop crying and feel better. However, this might not be what the other person wants, even though it might seem counterintuitive. Sometimes the person might simply need to be heard and supported. Sometimes, all they need is a shoulder to cry on. As such, trying to fix the situation can come across as dismissive or insensitive.
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