Re:Just Dont
by BeetleB on Tuesday November 08, 2022 @07:52PM
(#33526281)
> You can’t tell if someone is looking for advice or support and connection.
You can always ask. Seriously! Some communications books literally recommend you ask whether they want support/connection/advice.
And you will rarely go wrong if you commiserate. So: Commiserate first, and then say "I have some ideas on what may help, ... " and what follows is context dependent.
If it's a chronic health issue that you have not dealt with: "but you probably know more about this than I do and probably don't want to hear yet another idea."
If it's a chronic health issue that you have dealt with: "and they solved a similar problem I had, but I'm not sure your situation is the same as mine."
Trust me - if they want to hear your solution, they will then ask.
If it's very generic advice that people commonly treat as a panacea (e.g. diet, exercise, supplements, meditation, mindfulness), better to commiserate and keep your advice to yourself.
You can always ask. Seriously! Some communications books literally recommend you ask whether they want support/connection/advice.
And you will rarely go wrong if you commiserate. So: Commiserate first, and then say "I have some ideas on what may help, ... " and what follows is context dependent.
If it's a chronic health issue that you have not dealt with: "but you probably know more about this than I do and probably don't want to hear yet another idea."
If it's a chronic health issue that you have dealt with: "and they solved a similar problem I had, but I'm not sure your situation is the same as mine."
Trust me - if they want to hear your solution, they will then ask.
If it's very generic advice that people commonly treat as a panacea (e.g. diet, exercise, supplements, meditation, mindfulness), better to commiserate and keep your advice to yourself.