“As a society, we need to be more aware of the link between mental illness and chronic illness, as well as financial and all the other hardships that come along with that,” Laurie said. “Our attachment wounds and our past trauma or past hurt yield illness and hardship. And ‘just think positive’ will not lessen the pain.”
Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s tip is simple and straightforward: ask yourself if the advice you’re giving addresses the problem within minutes. Her second important piece of advice: remember that not everyone is religious.
“Comments like ‘let go and let God’ may feel dismissive to someone who is an atheist,” Elizabeth said. “It is advisable to check with the person first to see if they are religious to get an idea of how this may land with them. Even if they are religious, they may not be feeling receptive to this kind of response.”
