How to support a friend going through heartbreak

How to support a friend going through heartbreak (Photo: iStock)

If your friend is going through heartbreak, they’re enduring a raw, jagged pain that cuts deep. They may lie awake at 3 a.m., replaying painful memories or dissolve into tears at the sound of a familiar song. In those darkest hours, what they need isn’t advice; they need someone to simply be there: steady, present, and unfazed. That kind of presence, even in silence, can feel like the safest place to land. Here are some thoughtful ways you can show up for them and make a real difference in their healing process:

Listen without an agenda. Let them share the pain, even if it comes out the same way night after night. Stay close, give them your full attention, and offer simple words: “That sounds unbearably heavy,” or “I’m here with you.” Skip the clichés or fix-it advice. The compassion they receive in being truly heard makes more of a difference than any pep talk ever could.