Help When She's Stressed (The Right Way)

When she's stressed, your instinct might be to fix it or make it about you. That's not helpful. Actually helping means understanding what she needs and providing it—not what you think she needs, but what she actually needs.

Don't assume. Don't try to fix it. Ask: "What do you need right now?" Then do that.

1. Take Something Off Her Plate

What can you take off her plate? What can you handle so she doesn't have to? Handle dinner, take care of the kids, handle something she's worried about, or just give her space.

2. Don't Try to Fix It

Unless she asks for solutions, don't offer them. She might just need to vent. She might just need you to listen.

3. Don't Make It About You

This isn't about how her stress affects you. This is about her. Focus on her.

4. Give Her What She Needs

Ask what she needs. Then do that. It might be space, help with something specific, just to be listened to, or something else entirely.

Trying to fix it: Don't offer solutions unless she asks.

Making it about you: Focus on her, not yourself.

Assuming what she needs: Ask. Don't assume.

Adding to her stress: Don't make things more complicated.

You helped when she was stressed. You gave her what she actually needed. She felt supported. That's a win.