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In life, we often meet people going through difficult times, but sometimes it can be difficult to detect when someone close to us needs our help.
It is in those moments when our empathy and observation skills can make all the difference in someone else's life. As a psychologist and astrology expert, I have had the opportunity to help many people throughout my career, providing them with advice and guidance in times of need.
In this article, I will share with you 6 infallible tricks to detect when someone close to you needs our help, in order to strengthen our relationships and provide genuine support to those who need it most.
Join me on this journey and discover how to become that person that others rely on for comfort and support.
When it comes to helping others, sometimes it is not enough to wait for them to ask for our help. There are situations in which people may need our support without even realizing it or being aware of it.
To learn how to spot these signs and provide the necessary help, we spoke with clinical psychologist Martin Johnson, who shared with us some key tricks to identify when someone close to us may need our help.
"The first sign to detect if someone needs our help is to pay attention to changes in their behavior," Johnson says. "If a person used to be outgoing and is now more reserved or distant, it could be an indicator that something is not right and they may be in need of emotional support."
Another important trick is to "watch for changes in sleeping and eating patterns," according to the expert. "If we notice that someone close to us has had difficulty sleeping or has lost interest in food, it may be a sign that they are going through a difficult time and need our support."
In addition, Johnson stresses the importance of "being attentive to facial expressions and body language." According to him, "if we constantly see someone with a sad or tense expression, or notice that they avoid eye contact, it may be a clear sign that they are going through a complicated situation and may require our help."
"Let's not underestimate the importance of active listening," Johnson cautions. "If someone close to us starts talking repetitively about their problems or shows excessive interest in our own affairs, it may be a sign that they need to vent and are seeking our attention and support."
Another trick is to "pay attention to changes in social habits," according to the psychologist. "If we notice that someone has suddenly pulled away from activities they once enjoyed or avoids contact with friends and family, they may be going through a difficult time and need our help to get through it."
Johnson reminds us of the importance of "trusting our instincts." According to him, "If something doesn't feel right or if we get that feeling that someone close to us is quietly struggling, it's important to reach out to them and offer our support. Our instinct is often a reliable indicator when it comes to helping others."
It is very often the case that people close to you, whether friends, family or even your partner, are going through difficult times and need your help. However, sometimes they may have difficulty expressing what is happening to them or simply don't feel comfortable sharing their concerns.
That's why it's essential to be attentive to the details and try to understand what that particular person's needs are.
I recognize that it can be tricky because of the natural tendency we have to hide our problems. But if you are able to find your way into the other person's heart, you will be able to provide much-needed support in those difficult moments.
Sometimes your loved ones don't come to you for help for a variety of reasons.
One reason is that they don't want to make you uncomfortable with their problems or situations.
Another possibility is that they feel their situation is not serious enough to ask you for help.
They may also be unaware of the proper way to approach you and bring up their situation. Finally, many feel embarrassed to discuss their problems with you.
How do you identify when you need help?
When you are faced with a difficult situation, you have several options for dealing with it. The first and most common is to talk about it openly with others, seeking their support and advice.
Another alternative is to share it only with a small group of people who can help you. However, the most worrying situation arises when you decide to keep the problem to yourself.
This can have serious consequences, as we are social beings who need to interact and our health can also be affected if we do not share what is happening to us.
There are certain signs that you are facing problems without sharing them with others:
- Sudden changes in your mood.
- Having physical symptoms related to your problems, but without an apparent medical cause (somatization).
- Avoiding talking about certain issues or showing false positivity.
It is important to remember that our problems will not go away if we keep them to ourselves. The best way to deal with them is to seek help and share our concerns.
Pretending that everything is fine and hiding our negative feelings only takes us further away from the solution.
Social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, are often a clear example of this situation. Many people show their happiness and how wonderful their life is, but sometimes this can be just a mask to hide their real problems.
If you want to identify if someone needs help in their personal relationships, you should observe certain behaviors:
being unfriendly, annoying and distant;
stopping regular activities such as going to the gym or attending classes;
developing extreme compulsive behaviors such as eating too much or too little, working too many hours without rest or relaxation,
spending many hours in front of the computer or watching television; in addition to having difficulty maintaining solid relationships with both friends and partners.
Anyone showing these signs needs to seek professional help to solve their problems and recover emotionally.
When you notice that someone is going through a difficult situation and you want to help them, it is important to approach them appropriately.
The degree of closeness you have with that person can complicate this process.
It is essential to keep in mind that getting involved in another person's private affairs can create problems and even offend them.
To make the other person feel comfortable sharing their problem with you, it is advisable to build trust.
An effective way to do this is to share a personal problem of yours to show empathy. This way you can establish an emotional bond and get information about the problem without causing discomfort.
You can even ask for advice: "What do you think if...?", "Do you think it would be useful...?", "Could I do this...?".
When someone gives you even minimal help, you can express your gratitude by saying, "You've given me good advice! If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to let me know. I want to return the favor."
This approach of reaching out is not overt, as it involves giving and receiving mutual support.
Sometimes, when we face difficult situations and need help, it is difficult to confide in someone and tell them about our problems.
If this strategy does not work, then it is important to find another way for the other person to offer support.
A good idea would be to share a similar experience that you or someone close to you has had in the past. This will allow the other person to better understand your situation and feel more comfortable helping you.
However, if the bond between the two of you is not very close, it may be difficult to open up and talk about problems. With patience and trust, however, these barriers can be overcome.
How many people do not tell their parents, siblings or close friends that they are gay?
How many people have difficulty admitting to their environment that they have problems related to their physical appearance such as bulimia or anorexia?
How many people hide their relationship problems by always showing happiness on social networks?
How many people suffer from an illness but avoid seeking treatment and keep it a secret?
A study revealed that the more selfies a person uploads per day on social networks, the more likely they are to have insecurities and low self-esteem. According to the findings of this study, they constantly seek approval on these platforms through likes, comments or other reactions.
Using technology could be an effective strategy to approach someone we know and encourage them to confide their problems to us.
The use of a chat is the most appropriate option, as it reduces the pressure of meeting in person, thus reducing levels of shyness and giving the other person enough time to reflect before responding.
However, it is important to remember that direct contact is still essential.
Therefore, when the person presents us with his or her difficulty, it is advisable to arrange a face-to-face meeting in order to go deeper into the subject.
It's time to act! Although there are many problems that we cannot cover in a single article, here are some general recommendations to guide you:
At times, we may feel overwhelmed by the problems we face. It is important to take the time to do a deep analysis of ourselves and recognize the gravity of our situation.
Many people don't realize this until it's too late, so there are some key questions to ask yourself:
Will my problem get worse over time?
Is it affecting my health physically or mentally?
Am I losing social relationships or friendships as a result?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it's time to seek help.
I wrote an article for the case where you are the one who doesn't know how to seek help from others:
Five ways to seek advice from friends and family for a problem but you just can't bring yourself to do it.
There is no shame in asking for help; even if you think your problem is not serious enough to receive professional attention, talking to someone about it can be very beneficial.
If you are facing a difficult situation and need help, don't wait any longer to act.
You can start by asking for advice from someone who has experience in the subject or who is not so close to you; perhaps out of embarrassment or insecurity you prefer not to tell your family or close friends.
Also, do some research on the internet about people who are going through the same thing as you; there are many forums and support groups where you can find useful information.
However, it is important to remember that there are many ill-intentioned people on the internet, so don't trust anyone completely without checking their credibility first.
Don't waste time, act now to find the best solution for your problem.
A related article I wrote may interest you:
Ways to better express and cope with your feelings and emotions.
Let me share with you some tips based on my experience as a therapist specializing in astrological relationships to detect when someone needs our help:
1. Notice sudden changes: If you notice unusual changes in their behavior or mood, such as excessive irritability, deep sadness or a noticeable decrease in their vital energy, it could be an indication that something is wrong.
Pay attention to their words: If your loved one begins to express negative phrases about themselves or life in general ("I'm no good for anything", "everything goes wrong for me"), they may be going through a difficult time and need emotional support.
Be sensitive to physical signs: Recurring aches and pains with no apparent medical cause (such as constant headaches), digestive problems or drastic changes in weight may reflect underlying emotional distress.
4. Notice his routine: If you notice that he has given up activities he used to be passionate about, such as hobbies or sports, and is disinterested or apathetic, it could be an indication that he needs help regaining his motivation.
5. Observe their relationship with others: If your loved one avoids social contact, isolates themselves or shows difficulty relating to others, they may be going through a difficult time and need companionship and understanding.
6. Trust your intuition: Many times we can sense when someone is going through a difficult situation without the need for concrete evidence. If you feel that hunch, approach that person and offer your unconditional support.
Remember that each individual is unique and may express their needs differently. The most important thing is to be present to listen to them without judgment and offer them our unconditional love. Sometimes all it takes is a kind gesture to change someone's life.
In conclusion, detecting when someone close to us needs our help goes beyond words. We must be attentive to changes in their behavior, sleeping and eating patterns, facial expressions and body language, as well as paying attention to how they communicate their problems and changes in their social habits. In addition, trusting our instincts can be key to providing the necessary support.
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