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in Lifestyle, Uncategorized &middot June 30, 2015

How To Cheer Up A Friend Who’s Feeling Down

When we see a close friend going through a hard time, sometimes we can feel powerless to help. It can be hard seeing someone you care about struggling, especially when all you want to do is help and support them.

Whether someone they care about has passed away, they’ve lost their job or just broken up with someone, it can be hard to know how to help. While you want to help your friend, sometimes fear of making the situation worse can hold you back.

Don’t worry that what you say or do will make things worse, just realize that what matters is that you are there to support your friend. If you put your foot in it, apologize – it’s pretty simple. If you say the wrong thing, the chances are that your friend won’t even care, they’ll just be glad that you are there.

To help you raise their spirits and support them, here are a few tips and ideas to take a look at:

– Let them talk

The best thing you can do as a friend is listen to them as they talk. Sometimes, being able to get everything off of their chest is all it takes to help your friend cheer up.

Give your friend the chance to talk, don’t interrupt, simply listen and nod to show that you are listening. Don’t try to give your friend advice about how they should deal with the situation, just show them that you understand.

– Make them laugh

Your friend might not feel like laughing at the moment, but laughter really is the best medicine. Book tickets to see their favorite comedian, watch a funny DVD or reminisce about old times.

Once your friend can see the funny side of life, they will realize that life isn’t over. Something bad might have happened, but that doesn’t mean that life won’t go on.

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– Surprise them with a gift

There’s nothing like a present to perk you up, so why not surprise your friend with a gift? It’s up to you how much you want to spend; it’s not about how much the present costs, it’s the thought that counts.

Whether you surprise your friend with flowers or with one of the Shinola gold watches she’s been wanting, it doesn’t matter. It’s the thought that counts, not how much you spend on the gift.

– Book a spa day

There’s nothing like a pamper day to make you forget your troubles. Book a spa day for you and your friend and spend some time relaxing and being pampered.

As well as relaxing in the sauna and sipping champagne all day, why not treat your friend to a calming massage? It’s amazing how much better your friend will feel after having a soothing massage.

When a friend is feeling down it can be hard to know what to do to make things better, especially when you don’t want to make things worse. The most important thing you can do is be there for them and take the time to listen.

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Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.

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  1. Kenzie Negron says

    June 30, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    wow this post is awesome. I totally agree with all of your points xx, kenz
    http://sincerelykenz.com

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  2. Orly says

    June 30, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    laughing and letting them talk is my best way of helping them, along with a big pint of ben and jerrys half baked!
    thank you for sharing this
    xo
    Orly
    coffeebeansandhighheels/WP/

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  3. Candace Shiflet says

    June 30, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    awesome tips and such a great post to share! It is always so nice to have someone there to make you feel better and to BE the person making someone feel better when they're sad! Surprising with a gift is always a good idea! it can even be like a cupcake or flowers 🙂
    xo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants

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SHARING YOUR HEALTH EXPERIENCES PUBLICLY⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ I sh SHARING YOUR HEALTH EXPERIENCES PUBLICLY⁣⁣⁣
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I share my personal health experiences online, which I find it somewhat easy to do because I've been talking publicly - albeit to a smaller audience - since my health problems started in 2001. ⁣⁣⁣
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If you share something online, you need to be prepared for people to ask questions or argue with you. Should they? No. Will that stop them? Also do. ⁣
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That's one of the reasons that talking online about what can be trauma is not easy or for everyone. That's why it's important to practice self-care and to consciously think about what you want to share online before you do it. ⁣⁣⁣
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For example, I generally only talk publicly about a health situation once it has passed, especially if it's an emergency. I also make sure that I'm in a good place mentally before I talk about it. That way, I don't share things I'll regret sharing publicly later. It also helps me be less anxious about sharing these details.⁣⁣⁣
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And I don't share everything! There's lot of stuff that I haven't talked about not only online but with people in real life. It might seem like I share everything I've experienced, but I don't. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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Week 18 of 2026 Weekly 1️⃣ Cross-stitch and IVIG Week 18 of 2026 Weekly 

1️⃣ Cross-stitch and IVIG 
2️⃣ Another trip to the foot doctor. We’re officially in Try To Avoid My 6th Foot Surgery mode 🤞🏻 
3️⃣ At least there were lilacs?

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2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor’s office. She’s wearing a lilac mask.
3️⃣ A lilac bush

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This is a series where I answer questions I frequently get about my rheumatoid arthritis. I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice - just saying the truth about my body in particular. 

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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I’ve been on IVIG since September. So what does su I’ve been on IVIG since September. So what does success look like? ⁣
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*This is all just for me and my case!*⁣
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1️⃣ I haven't gotten sick at all since I started, not even a cold. ⁣
2️⃣ My lungs are clear of any ground glass opacities, which was what pushed us over to finally doing IVIG regularly. ⁣
3️⃣ We feel better about saying that I don't have any infections. Because symptoms are often signs of the body fighting an infection, we couldn't always trust that I wasn't sick because I didn't have symptoms. ⁣
4️⃣ Because of all of this, we're increasing my next Rituxan dose! This will mean better RA symptoms and hopefully no new illnesses for a few years.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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Week 17 of 2026 Weekly 1️⃣ Making some real progr Week 17 of 2026 Weekly

1️⃣ Making some real progress with this cross stitch
2️⃣ Walking casts have multiple uses, including holding down your mat! (Don’t worry - I only did broken-foot-compatible things) 

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Can we talk about fatigue for a sec? ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ Fatigue Can we talk about fatigue for a sec? ⁣⁣⁣
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Fatigue is so much more than being tired. It's sleeping 10 hours at night and then struggling to stay awake during the day. It's trouble focusing because, even though you just had 3 cups of coffee, you're thinking about sleep. It's needing to factor rest in during the day because you have plans at night. ⁣⁣⁣
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Week 16 of 2026 This week had EVERYTHING 1️⃣ Cr Week 16 of 2026 

This week had EVERYTHING

1️⃣ Cross-stitch during virtual mass 
2️⃣ Tuesday featured a 90-minute meeting during work and then an hour advocacy work call after my day job (both were good!)
3️⃣ Wednesday started at my foot doctor’s office and I left in a walking boot. Hopefully these 3 fractured bones will heal correctly this time 🤞🏻
4️⃣ Thursday started back at MGH for my annual neurology appointment + foot CT scan
5️⃣ Then I went up to Maine … 
6️⃣ to celebrate my grandma’s 85th birthday! 

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My face comes with subtitles, so .. ⁣ ⁣ ⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ I My face comes with subtitles, so .. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣
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