I am not sure how to help my friend
By wongchoiyee
@wongchoiyee (7413)
Malaysia
October 29, 2011 8:00am CST
She is a very intelligent thinking girl. She is always reasonable but not until 4 years ago we keep in touch again I noticed something is wrong in her thinking and behaviour. She always said her guy friends that she met. Nothing wrong in her relationship but she always say she is not happy at home and office. Until recently she run away from home and stay at my house I see that she doesn't keep my house clean at all. Her shoes are put inside my house which we ourselves did not put in the house and she did not take bath after work. She just sleeps on my bed and not smell good. I know she has her own problems but she won't talk it out. How can I help her now as she move from one friend's house to another?
4 people like this
19 responses
@siri26 (331)
• India
29 Oct 11
Some people are not open minded and they won't let others know their problem may be because of fear that others take lenience or make fun out of that. So it's better leave her for some days and let her come on her own or try bit later. Talk to her and try to get the info after few days and console her. And coming to her tidiness may be because she is not in mood she is behaving like that. It seems she is in very depressive state so make her feel comfortable and try to be with her and try to change her mood. As a friend I think you know better what makes her normal. As friends it's our responsibility to look after her when they are in depressive state
@god314159 (84)
• China
29 Oct 11
i can't agree more . just insist on caring her ,she will understand sometime .
@henkiprananda (2729)
• Indonesia
29 Oct 11
you cannot help people like this instanly. need more time to make she more believe with you. just show to her, that you have a good habbit, maybe she will shame and change.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
Ok... but because i myself also have a bit depression, its hard for me to show her the right way to live. I still have to struggle on myself everyday.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
I did explain to her but she never listen. When I m talking she won't listen, but when she is talking I have to listen.
@henkiprananda (2729)
• Indonesia
30 Oct 11
i mean, not speak with her. i have faced people like that. if do activity and show him/her a good life of us, they will jealeous, and finally they will shame. jsut do it by activity. show her that you have a good live and discipline.
@god314159 (84)
• China
29 Oct 11
maybe she was hurted by someone .So all you have to do to make her happy ,make her believe that the world is wonderful . Here is some advice .
1. make a trip ,suck some fresh air .
2.do some excercise to relax .
3. help her find some fun in her job .
4. find a boyfriend .maybe a new date that she will notice her behaviour .
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
I did go shopping with her and she is so happy but when we went home she feels sad again.
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
That is a good advice. You can't go shopping with her everyday to make her happy and she can't continue behave that way and if by having you with her still not change the situation, she should consider to head on advice of the expert. Accompany her to see a doctor.
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
HI choi yee!
If she won't talk to you the reason then I suggest you not to allowed her to stay at your house. If she still wants to stay then she need to pay for it as she can't just stay without pay anything even if she had problems with her family or life. When you said that she keep move from one friend's house to another it means that she has something that she hide from you and you should find it out. As a friend she should tell you her problem in order for you to help her but from what you said here she is nothing than someone who took an advantage from others.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
2 Nov 11
We could not ask her for money as she always help us when we needed money. I think I do the right thing for not asking her money for rental.
1 person likes this
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
Seems like she is a different person out of my house. I realize some of the things she told me are different told by her brother example her reason to run away. She said her brother kicks her out of the house but actually she ran away herself.
1 person likes this
@clearwater18 (695)
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
As a friend you have to ask her what's really wrong with her. Maybe she's facing a lot of problems. You should let her know that you're there for her and that you will listen to her. With regards to the cleaning, tell her that in a kind way.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
I did my best to console her, but she don't know what she wants. These 5 days she stayed at my house make me so miserable. I have to fetch her back from work and drive her to shopping mall.
@clearwater18 (695)
• Philippines
30 Oct 11
Oh that's too bad. Maybe it's time to tell her about how you feel. She has to decide now as to what she wants to do with her life.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
31 Oct 11
Sounds like your friend is having some Severe depression and other issues in her life and needs help. Maybe find someone she can talk too and trust to get her some medications to help this situation and to be able to help get her back to wanting to feel appreciated again. Many times if there have been problems like abuse people do tend to clam up, etc. and until they can find some help and move past this, life is a little shaky for sure.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
1 Nov 11
Ooh I see that I can understand what you are saying. She is probably been abused and could not talk it out to me. I will try my best to make her talk it out and find a solution to her.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
31 Oct 11
Your friend may be clinically depressed.
She needs to see a doctor.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
2 Nov 11
I think so. She should go to see a doctor. I have told her brother to do so but her brother seems to ignoring my advice.
@rameshchow (4426)
• India
29 Oct 11
You just talk with her directly. and explain her faults and mistakes without any shy. No need to feel pressure, why do you feel suffer from her, if you are not liking her activities say to her directly. If she is your best friend, she can understand that.
If she is a normal friend to you, she can leave you immediately.
@sijabatnaburjut (2171)
• Indonesia
30 Oct 11
My suggestion was that you go to her and find an answer what made her not feeling comfortable at her own house so as to make her moving from one friend's house to another. I thought that she could not let her problem crawling into someone without having to feel sorry about it. If she still wanted to stay with you, you must ask her to clean your house. Can I ask you is she married or not ?
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
She is 30 years old and single. She has gone out few times with a guy but then the guy said they are not compatible. Till now, she is still longing for the love from that guy.
@Rosa26 (2618)
• United States
29 Oct 11
Talk to about her situation and tell her that because you are her friend you are doing what you can to help her, but you think it would better if she talks to you about what is happening to her, sometimes is better when we share our problems because is easier to find a solution.
Converse with honest and respectful dialogue. If your friend, is not receptive to your advice, do not be pushy. She may need more time to process your discussion or your advice may not be suitable for her particular situation.
Avoid criticism, especially when it relates to something she cannot change. For example, if a friend asks you about her way to dress herself, do not tell her it is unflattering. Instead, suggest ways she could style her that would make it look best refers her to a new look would enhance her appearance
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
30 Oct 11
First of all: every person has different habits. But if you are a guest in someone's house you live by their rules.
If these rules are not clear to your friend you have to tell her what is permitted and what not.
So tell her where to put the shoes/coat, dirty clothes and to shower daily and not lay on your bed.
This all beside of the fact that if someone feels unhappy he/she is not really taking good care of him/herself. Then it's a moment you give up on everything.
But a helping hand is welcome and if you accept that you must be willing to better your life/situation. Sounds to me she is not willing to do so and is accepting all the help but not investing in herself (or others) at all.
You should have a clear talk with her about what is accepted, what is not and if she cannot live by these rules she is not welcome anymore.
This might sound hard but this is the way it is. If she is not willing to work on herself why should you?
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
2 Nov 11
I think she has problems that she won't share it to me. Why should I bother then if she is so selfish?
@chary2011 (26)
• China
31 Oct 11
I am so sorry to hear that, why she changed? What happened these years on her. she does move from one friend's house to another, is bad. she just think of herself, and give her friends many worries. what's worse, she didn't tell anybody about her change. So friends are worried about her. I think you should pay attention to her behaviours and her words,sometimes tail after her,maybe this is illegal, but may help you find some clue. Another is taking her to the former environment,stimulates her.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
1 Nov 11
I think she is selfish but I care for her so I will not let her down like that. I think I will tail her but what if she find out, she will be so mad! Hopefully GOD will always help those people in need. I feel sorry for her!
@savypat (20216)
• United States
29 Oct 11
Sometimes that very best help we can be is to just listen, your friend is the only one who can solve her problems. It's also good to remember that each child is taught to be clean and helpful according to their own family values. Don't judge your friend because her habits are different then yours.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
She did those things but only if she wants. She thought it is her home already.
@enelym001 (8322)
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
If both of you considers each other as real friends. You must try to be honest with her and give her a good advise. Tell her the unpleasant things she was doing in a tone that she won't feel bad and get offended.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
I consider her as my real friend, but don't know what's on her mind. I feel that although we are near but our hearts are apart.
@tamirs (1807)
• Philippines
29 Oct 11
Hi there wongchoiyee,
Since you are friends ,maybe you can first try to ask her what could be her problem.
If she tells you what it is,you may weigh if it is just a minor problem or a major one..
if say its just a minor problem,tell her you want to help her in anyway you can(if you really want to help)but everything must start within her..
If you say its a big problem she is having now,maybe that's when you let her have her moments to think and be alone,but making sure she knows you are always there if she needs you..
With regards to her tidiness,there's always a subtle way to do that.Since she has problem,why not cheer her up by inviting her to make a swim every once in a while.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 11
I don't want her to go crazy because of these things family problems, boyfriends and career. Its such a pity she wants to run away from the problems.
@devi53 (347)
• India
29 Oct 11
HAI friend, I think this type of her character make the guy friend to criticize her that is why she run away from her home.Better ask her to tell at-lest to you, you are a good friend even then she is keeping mum. How can any one help without knowing the exact problem. She is using all your articles, you have the authority to ask her because she is staying with you, this kind of her behavior spoils your peacefulness also.I like to pray GOD to solve all her problems.