Use this tag for questions looking to identify interpersonal skills which can help another person with interpersonal issues. Questions must have a clear and specific goal!
Questions tagged [how-to-help]
72 questions
107
votes
11 answers
How to tell someone believing in pseudoscience & conspiracy theories is wrong without making them feel stupid/upset?
A close family member of mine is a raw vegan, anti vaxer, anti-antibiotics, anti-fluoride, believes in chemtrails, has a machine that filters water and makes it alkaline, eats lots of supplements, buys only organic produce and buys all her hygiene,…
Mythical_Ewe
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58
votes
7 answers
How to help a friend through a rough breakup when his actions are testing the limits of my patience?
One of my close friends, who is 25, has recently broken up with his girlfriend of 10-11 months. Naturally, he has turned to me and other people close to him for help and support.
My friend is, by nature, quite needy and very inexperienced with…
InterpersonalLoser
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44
votes
10 answers
How to answer a technical question without sounding patronizing
Context :
My girlfriend (let's call her V) and I, are programmers, and sometimes we ask each other questions when we believe the other may have an answer.
A few times, she’s told me that I sounded patronizing in my answer (which might be the case,…
user20726
42
votes
7 answers
How to suggest someone to find a hobby without offending them?
As for the topic, if possible I'd be grateful for general answer and more specific one regarding following situation:
My girlfriend has a clinically diagnosed depression (she attends visits with psychiatrist and is taking medications). Because of…
aMJay
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38
votes
9 answers
How to tell a non-muslim friend that "Inter-faith Marriage not gonna work"?
I had a pretty religious (Christian) friend from the UK (of the same age as me - late 20's) and we often used to talk about Quran and Gospel (she had knowledge of both and so did I) and it leads to often very interesting discussions and new…
Failed Scientist
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35
votes
6 answers
How to make girlfriend feel better about health and body
For context, my girlfriend and I have been dating for about a year now, and we're really close, especially when it comes to talking things over. We would both describe ourselves as nerds, and would never normally really care too much about how other…
DaveThePerson
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31
votes
5 answers
How to help my girlfriend get her confidence back?
My girlfriend and I have been dating for a little over a year now, and while I consider her to be an amazing person, she has an extremely low opinion of herself, calling herself "worthless" or the likes.
I think it's important here to give a little…
user3399
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30
votes
6 answers
How to help my mother work through extreme anxieties?
My mom has had anxiety issues for as long as I can remember. It used to be sort of quirky and not disruptive of our lives, including (but not limited to):
Touring each room of the house to make sure everything was unplugged if not in use
Feeling…
Jess K.
- 22,559
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30
votes
9 answers
Can you help someone become more self aware?
The TL:DR is the actual heading. The rest is all backstory on why I am asking. I am asking if I can (or maybe even should try) to assist my spouse on becoming more self aware.
My husband and I were doing a quiz last night. Sometimes we do these.…
threetimes
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29
votes
2 answers
How to help my friend who is a functioning alcoholic?
I have a friend who is a functioning alcoholic. He's in his early thirties, lives with his parents in a small apartment and has a degree in electrical engineering (never practiced it).
At first, I didn't think his behavior was problematic. He is…
Tycho's Nose
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25
votes
15 answers
How can I help my Significant Other to overcome his fear particularly when I don't understand it?
Everything is in the title but in case it matters here is some context:
I don't fear things (spiders or snakes or blood or needles or whatever) and I don't really understand how/why people are afraid of those things.
My BF on the other hand IS…
Yutah
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25
votes
3 answers
How can I ask an autistic volunteer at camp to be more independent?
I work at a camp run by the nature center in a large local nature reservation. Each camp is for three hours, either in the morning or afternoon. Optimally, there is a naturalist leading the camp, an assistant naturalist, and a volunteer, for 14…
HDE 226868
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24
votes
5 answers
How do I get a delusional friend to seek professional help?
I have a good friend who has recently lost the ability to take advice or criticism and has become extremely delusional as a result. It's clear that he has a mental disability of some description and although we (me and other close friends) have…
DCON
- 349
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22
votes
1 answer
Warning someone that they have been suckered into a scam
A friend of mine (let's call her Anne) was recently drawn into attending life-coaching sessions, through an organization which is a scam based on the Lifespring model (tl;dr they give you a psychological high, and then make you pay $$$ to attend…
asgallant
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20
votes
3 answers
Tips on reassuring partner with bad experiences with previous partners
So... I'm looking at trying to help my current partner (girlfriend) help overcome her emotions when we get in a little bit of a minor argument about random topics and she gets emotional about me getting angry at her etc.
I've already brought the…
user10013