Know when something has changed

Having one frustrated or upset comment floating around is one thing, but a whole string of them all the time should be a warning sign to you that something is different with your loved one. If you're close enough to the person, you should be able to notice when they're not the same person as before. Look out for changes in personality, attitude, actions, etc and be willing to take the leap and try to help them out. However, the changes you're looking for may not be so apparent. I have a friend who seemed happy all the time, but she started putting things down in her Instagram captions that were red flags to me. Be aware of every possibility.

Reach out to them

Sometimes this is easier said than done. You want to talk to them and be helpful, but you may also be worried about somehow saying the wrong thing. Speaking from my own experience, I've typed and deleted drafts of messages left and right before finally accepting what seems to be the best option. Honestly though just a simple "hello" or "I noticed you said this in your recent post, how are you feeling?" is all it takes sometimes to reach out in the right way. Doing this shows that you truly love and care about the person involved and you're there for them if they feel they need it. Let them respond at their own pace and don't smother them while you're waiting because you're worried. Positive changes take time and this is one big step towards it.

Lend them your ears and let them vent

Getting a rough situation out of your head can make a world of a difference most of the time. Show your friend that you're willing to listen to their troubles even if it takes all day. Remind them that they can always trust you to stay genuine and that your heart is always opened up to them. However, don't pressure them to share everything troubling them. Instead, let them come to you when they're ready or suggest an alternate way for them to get what's bottled up out. I've found that getting everything down on paper helps more than it's given credit for.

Show them the light they will always have

Pessimistic thoughts are capable of completely taking over if you let them. More often than not, someone around you may feel worthless or like they have no real purpose even though that's far from the truth. At the time, they may not be able to realize all of their gifts and talents. This is where you come in. As their friend or family member, you hang around them enough to see what gives them joy and where their skills lie. You have the power to show them how talented they really are and how they touch the lives around them with it. Whether they're a singer, a writer, photographer, or artist, take them out to do what they love and what they're good at.

Distract them with something fun

This may sound a bit different, but more people than you think use this as a way to help their friends out. Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in negativity or stress from working that you get even more worn out or cranky. I always try to remind everyone I know of the importance of incorporating some "play" time into their routine even if they don't think they have enough time. With that said, visit your friend who may be having a rough time and watch their favorite show or movie, do their favorite activity, or take them somewhere fun. It's a much needed refresher.

Show them love and encouragement

The desire for love or confidence is enough to shut anyone down. In terms of love, everyone gets so blinded by romantic love and how much they want it that they don't realize that love is all around them. Confidence is another thing that so many people in this world long for and unfortunately, the internet makes it harder to find it. As a frequent social media user, the Internet is flooded with skinny and "beautiful" models and companies who refuse to use someone with "flaws" or who is "overweight" as the cover of their brand. Social media can be a beautiful and treacherous world. All of this negativity should be overshadowed in every possible way, especially for someone who feels like their world is falling apart. The potential cure: write them letters of love and encouragement as often as you can.

Show this person that they are beautiful. Tell them how great they were at that art show. Bleed as much love and positivity into their life as you can. There's too much bad in this world and it needs to be cleaned up. Even just saying hi or wishing them a good day and morning can put a smile on their face.