15 Ways To Help A Friend Through A Breakup

Helping a friend through a breakupcan feel like putting out a fire.

Youstopwhat you’re doing,dropyour current plans, androllover to their house with a pint of ice cream and a shoulder to cry on.

However, being a good friend isn’t always as simple as a three-step rule.

Sometimes, we are at a loss for the right thing to say or do in the moment.

Even if you have been there yourself, you may not know how to comfort a friend during a breakup.

We have put together a brief guide forfinding the right words and actions.

What to Say to Someone Who Just Broke Up

If you want to sharewords of encouragementafter a breakup, you may be concerned about saying the wrong thing.

Merely being there shows your friend that you have their back, but they may ask for guidance or comforting words while going through their heartbreak.

No one relationship is the same, so there is no one size fits all approach to a breakup either. However, there are a few essential guidelines and sentiments worth touching on as you support your friend.

Here are a few helpful tips for what to say to your friend when they get dumped:

Tell them you are here for them.When you hear the news, give your friend a call or send a text message along these lines: “I’m so sorry to hear what happened. I’m just reaching out to let you know that I’m here for whatever you need.” Your friend needs to know they have a support system.
问问你能做什么来帮助,and truly listen to them with open ears. If they say they need space, give them space. Instead of waiting for them to tell you what they need, ask them something like, “Is there anything I can do that would make you feel better?”
Offer words of encouragement.If your pal is down in the dumps, they may be engaging in negative self-talk. You are there to help them see how amazing they are and avoid falling into despair. Tell them why you love them and be a source of positivity.

What You Should Never Say to Someone Who Just Broke Up

Being the go-to friend can feel like navigating a minefield. When in doubt, just listen. Be there and make them laugh. Hold their hand and let them cry it out. Unsolicited advice isn’t helpful, but even solicited advice can take a wrong turn. Here are a few things to avoid:

Don’t point out where things went wrong:Your friend doesn’t need to feel judged. If they want to flesh out the details, remember you are there to listen. You aren’t there to theorize.
Don’t be petty.Avoid harsh language about your friend’s ex, as the couple could get back together. If that happens, your friend is not likely to forget what you said and may feel uncomfortable coming to you for support if they feel judged.
Don’t trivialize their pain.Validate their feelings, rather than making the situation seem easier than it is. Avoid centering things on yourself or minimizing their fears. Statements like “Hey, we’re all single now!” or “He sucked anyway”, will make your friend feel like they should be over it already.

What’s In This Article:

[show]

How to Help a Friend Through a Breakup in 15 Steps

1. Make Time for Them

Before the breakup, your friend likely spent the majority of their time with their significant other, and now he or she is learning to navigate without them.

Try to prioritize spending quality time with your friend so they don’t have to dwell on negative thoughts.

You are not obligated to spend every second of your day with them, but try to find a balance between prioritizing them and making space for yourself.

2. Practice Active Listening

Active listeningmeans being present and truly hearing what your friend has to say, rather than speaking over them or zoning out.

Ask specificquestions,所以ey know that you want to understand their situation better. Small affirmation statements like “Oh, I see” or “I understand” signals that you are still listening without interrupting their train of thought or turning the conversation towards you.

麦e sure you demonstrate your concern for them and make them feel heard.

3. Run Errands or Do Chores

When you are suffering through heartbreak, it can be hard to get out of bed, let alone empty your dishwasher or go grocery shopping. Stepping in to take responsibility for these tasks will significantly ease the load for your friend, and show how much you care.

4. Bring Treats

Small surprises always help. A sweet treat, a goofy movie, or a bunch of junk food can be a helpful cure for anyone going through a hard time.

couple sitting beside lake How to Get Over A Breakup

Does your friend have a favorite candy or bottle of wine? Stop by the store on the way to their house and pick it up. Your friend will be pleased to see you thought of them and happy to eat some chocolate!

5. Help Them to Engage in Self Care Practices

During a breakup, we can neglect ourselves when we focus on losing someone else. If your friend is experiencing this, encourage a bit ofself-care.

Share a meditation app, buy a journal, or help them find a local therapist on their insurance plan. Remind them of the things they used to love doing on their own and help ease their way back into doing them.

6. Plan an Escape

Sometimes you just need to get out of town or maybe just out of the house. Plan a weekend getaway or a road trip for only the two of you.

Help your friend escape the places that remind them of their ex and make new memories together. An escape isn’t a long term fix but can provide a fun short term distraction. If you can’t leave town, organize a fun “stay-cation.”

More Related Articles:

9 Ways To Get Over Unrequited Love

65 Words Of Encouragement Quotes For Women

How To Be A Nicer Person In 14 Steps

7. Be Patient with Them

There is no pre-set expiration date for heartbreak. It may take weeks or months for your friend to start feeling like normal again. Take space if you need to, but try to be patient with them.

Don’t blame them for feeling sad or processing their pain in their own time. If they don’t want to get out of the bed or go out with friends, don’t force it. With a healthy support system, things will eventually get better.

8. Open Your Home as Well as Your Heart

麦e your home a safe space for them. If they need a place to crash somewhere for a few nights, a distraction, or just a home-cooked meal, let them know your door is open.

Maybe it seems obvious, but it never hurts to let them know that your home is open to them, and they aren’t a burden to you. Of course, only offer what you can feasibly do and keep critical boundaries in place.

9. Check in Regularly

Send a sweet message through text or call every once in a while to make sure they are okay, see if they need anything, or remind them how much they are loved.

A little extra support in a hard time is always appreciated, but avoid smothering or forcing them to talk. Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues. If you think you are being overly-supportive or pushing too hard, simply ask them how they feel. People are generally willing to tell you what they need when you ask.

If you are in a friend group, avoid speculating about your bestie’s breakup. Gossiping never helps. You may share concern and love for your friend, but keep them in the loop rather than talking behind their back.

If you feel like you’ve taken on too much responsibility in caring for your friend, reach out to their other friends for help. You aren’t a superhero and can’t solve someone else’s heartbreak on your own. Lean on your friends for support.

11. Support Their Need for Change

Some people thirst for reinvention after a breakup. This can manifest in many different ways, from a haircut to a sudden interest in running marathons.

No matter how silly their chosen method of reinvention may seem, try and be supportive of their need for change.

Help your friend rearrange the furniture in their living room or help scroll through Pinterest to find the perfect reference picture for bangs, even if you think they’ll want to grow them out in two weeks.

Reinvention is a critical component of getting over a breakup.

12. Make a Care Package

Package all of their favorite foods in a picnic basket, or curate a playlist of songs you think they’d like. You can even include practical things like toothpaste or a new hairbrush — the sort of things you forget to replace amid the heartbreak.

If your friend is female, make a trip to Sephora and pick up some new skincare or makeup. If you wonder how to help a guy friend through a breakup, include that new video game he’s been talking about for weeks or make a list of your favorite comedy specials on Netflix.

13. Make Them Laugh

Nothing heals a wound faster than laughter, and nothing distracts from a breakup better than a funny friend. Don’t be afraid to be goofy and talk about silly things.

Supporting them doesn’t have to mean deep conversations about how it all went wrong. Throw on reruns of your favorite comedy show, or watch cute puppy videos on YouTube. Bring up funny friendship memories that keep your pal hopeful about the future.

14. Avoid Comparison

Your breakup is not their breakup. You can share things that helped you get through your heartbreak, but avoid centering your experiences during this time.

Try not to compare their relationship or their breakup to another couple’s, as it gives them room to look for failure or dwell in jealousy. Keep your advice on the specifics of your friend’s situation.

15. Respect Their Boundaries and Yours

要支持你的朋友但是没有结束whelm them. Respect their privacy and calls for space. You may get so wrapped up in helping them that you neglect your own needs. Setting uphealthy boundaries使您能够避免这种情况。

Helping your friend through a breakup is the right thing to do.

Figuring out how to help someone get over a breakup can seem like a complicated process, but ultimately the steps are simple: be there and listen.

Pay attention to where they may need help and find small ways to bring a little light into their life. It’s okay if you mess up or say the wrong thing every once in a while.

Remember, the position you’re in isn’t comfortable, and it’s not your job to fix everything. There is no right way, but effort does go a long way in helping your friend heal and move on.