Guide to emotional first aid

How to act and how to help in a difficult situation?

There are often situations in which people around us are having a hard time and we find it difficult to know how to react in order to we find it difficult to know how to react in order to support them.

In these cases there are moments of uncertainty, partly because we do not know if the initiatives we are undertaking to help these people are working or if, on the contrary, they are just another burden for those who are going through a bad time.

Guide to emotional first aid

Below you can read some fundamental ideas that will help you to guide your emotional support initiatives in the best possible way. in the best possible way.

1. Ask what they want from you

When faced with a sad person, one of the first questions you should ask is: "What can I do for you? What can I do for you? That's when the real emotional support begins, rather than finding out what happened to her. Prioritize their well-being over your curiosity to find out what could have happened to them.

2. Listen to what you are told

Providing support is, among other things, listening and making it easier for the other person to let off steam to release tension. release tensions. That is why you should not take such an active role as to clearly lead the relationship between you and the sad person. Support is just that: being willing to help the other personand paying attention to their needs, and not overloading them with advice or imposed activities. Therefore, the most important thing you can do is to practice active listening. active listeningThat is, talk less than the other person and do it so that, if he/she wants to, he/she can express him/herself.

3. Do not underestimate silences

You don't have to feel uncomfortable if the time you spend keeping the other person company is riddled with silencesIt's normal. By physically accompanying this person you may already be helping him or her, and words are almost always secondary almost always. Try, moreover, that the other person notices that for you there is no problem to remain long periods without saying anything. This way, he or she will not have to act out of commitment.

4. Crying is not bad

It seems absurd to have to say it, but it never hurts to remember this. Nowadays crying is frowned uponIt is, however, a mechanism present in all cultures that serves to relieve tension, exhaust the body and, in a way, relieve oneself. It is also a good time to to strengthen ties by means of a hug.This physical contact can make the person who is sad feel more comfortable and freer to express the thoughts and feelings that afflict him or her.

You can complement this point by reading the following article: "How to give bad news? 12 emotional keys".

5. Respect their privacy

Lending emotional support to someone does not mean that we are sealing a pact with that person according to which you offer companionship in exchange for them revealing to you all the reasons for their sadness. One side of this feeling of grief can be verbalized, but there is another side that inevitably remains private and is subjective, or the person prefers not to reveal it. It is important to respect this.

6. Pay attention to the important details

Someone who is going through a bad time is capable of spending a lot of time thinking about what is happening to them or focusing on their emotions, is capable of forgetting important things in his daily life.. If you can, try to be there to see if this person is overlooking important things both in his or her daily planning and in the small gestures and movements he or she may make.

7. Respect their desire for solitude

There are many people who prefer to be alone when they are sad. For that reason, do not insist on being next to them no matter what they say and no matter what they do. By leaving them some space you may be helping them to recover and, in any case, you can always make it clear that they can count on your company at any time if they feel like it.