What constitutes a real friend? Many of us ask ourselves whether or not the people we call our friends are actually our friends. It’s not cunning or conniving to think this way, in fact, it’s a very evolved mechanism in our brains. We need to know that when the times get tough, we have people in our lives that are there for us to help us pick up the pieces and get moving again.

Whether you’re suffering a loss of the family, just went through a breakup, failed an exam, heard some very bad news regarding our health, and so many other scenarios, we need people to show us they care.

Have you ever asked yourself, if you are that kind of friend to others? Do you make the extra effort to be there for people who are there for you? Do you show them the same amount of loyalty they show you? It’s a harsh truth but you might be able to do better. The next time one of your close friends is in trouble and feels down, here are something you can do for them.

Come on over

When we’re down, what do we do? We order fast food and we comfort eat. This rush of sugars and saturated fats make us feel better for a little while but the come down doesn’t. They only make us feel unhealthy and drained of energy. Instead, you should offer to come over a friend’s house who is feeling down for whatever reason and cook together or for them. Your friend might have been in a long-term relationship and had a breakup or feeling down after a divorce. Offer to come over and cook a nice meal, and spend the night talking about their concerns and future. A home-cooked meal made with care and a companion to talk to really helps people in depression.

Therein beauty

When you are down in the dumps, nothing seems to look as it normally does. The green fields with sunshine seem to look grey and bleak. The happy face of our pets, seem to look expressionless. We lose our will to see things in a positive light. This is especially so when we are struck with grief due to the death of a loved one. You can inject a little life and beauty back into a friend’s life with a bouquet of sympathy flowers. These flowers are in subtle neutral shades and sometimes earthly tones of orange, pink, purple and light green. Posies and roses are a great choice as they rich in color but not overly vibrant as if to celebrate a positive occasion.

More than saying hi

Going through a tough time, your friend should be contacted regularly to keep their spirits up. You have to do more than say hi or bye via text. You should try to call them once every 2 or 3 days to catch up and generally keep their mind off whatever has made them very melancholy. Just talking and hearing a voice of someone who cares is enough to bring someone out of an emotional slump sometimes.

A friend in need is someone that we should care about, you never know it could be you one day that needs someone to talk to or care about. Sending flowers is an uplifting gift, but going over to have a meal together will comfort them even more/