Helping Out a Friend

Just the other day, I found out a friend of mine was a rape victim. I was so shocked. I was scared for her and realized she needed me. Talking to her was hard, but I learned a lot about being a good friend and how I could help her.

Be there for her. Nothing is worse than having something you need to talk about and not having anyone to talk to. If your friend needs you, put aside your social calendar for a couple hours and talk to her. Make sure she knows you’ll be there in her time of need.

Let her talk to you. It might sound easy, but it’s actually really hard to just listen to someone. Don’t start talking about your bad day or the drama between you and your best friend. This is her time and she needs someone who can make the conversation all about her.

Be patient. Sometimes it takes a while for someone to open up, even if she’s your best friend. It took my friend a few days before she was able to talk to me. Even though we sat in silence for a few hours, I knew it would be worth the wait when she was able to talk. Don’t rush her and don’t ask a ton of questions. Wait for her to feel ready and secure enough to open up.

Ler her know it’s okay to cry. Whether it’s you crying, her crying, or the two of you together, crying is always okay. My friend was so conscious about shedding tears in front of me, and she had no reason to be. Crying is a form of release and can really help a person to relax a little.

Let her know it’s going to be okay. Yes, what happened to your friend may be overwhelming, but reassure her that everything will work out. Make sure she knows things will go back to normal eventually. Her world may be in pieces now, but with your help and the help of others, she’ll return to her every-day routines faster than she thinks.