Communicating with a struggling loved one by text can be challenging. Those offering support can feel limited in these circumstances, and no doubt wish to be with the person they care about.
As more adults ready themselves for more anxious feelings (and solutions to those feelings) in 2023, it’s important to rally around friends more than ever. Even when distance separates loved ones, they still have to come through for each other.
Words alone aren’t always enough, either. So, it’s worth having a few things in mind that can be sent via text to form a more well-rounded correspondence of care.
One should always recognize their limits when supporting a friend. Providing some comfort is good, assuming the place of a trained therapist is not. There are lots of wellness apps and resources available today. It could be a good idea for a friend to sign up on behalf of another, temporarily covering a subscription cost or arranging a trial period. It’s an actionable step that could potentially be life-changing. They can be shared and recommended with the swipe of a screen.
These apps can help with many things, too; medication, meeting fitness goals, nutritional intake, etc. Introducing these types of resources into a friend’s life can alleviate pressure on all parties and help further interactions occur under healthier circumstances for all.
People send GIFs all the time. They can cheer up somebody, especially when what’s received is an old favorite of many years. But what if one could create new favorites instead? It’s easy to learn how to make a GIF online these days. After uploading a preferred video, converting those clips into reaction GIFs or fully-fledged memes can take only seconds. A painless process, it can be undertaken repeatedly for a friend in need, giving them lots of funny or touching content to enjoy.
Playing with these tools can be a nice little project too. Users can customize the aspect ratio, the length of the clips, and many other things about the potential GIF. It can be a creative outlet for the sender and a reassuring comfort for the receiver, giving both parties a cathartic experience.
Few things can be as soothing for the soul as music. A well-selected tune can also be a great way to send someone a poignant message of care. Why settle for one song? A full playlist of thoughtful melodies and sweet lyrics could be something a friend needs to pull them out of a funk. Ideally, the playlist will be thematically structured rather than just a jumble of songs the sender likes. A message must be conveyed with every addition to the playlist.
One shouldn’t underestimate the true power of music. After all, music can be used to help connect loved ones during times of extreme strife, helping to overcome even the tallest challenges, such as those involving dementia. It can bring powerful memories to the surface and remind people of better days. Before playlists, people offered a similar comforting gesture with mixtapes, so this is a tried and tested method of providing comfort from a distance.
This is a collaborative post.
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