I still remember the first time I said ‘no, I’m not ok’. I took a risk and put myself out there. My friend looked at me weirdly, told me they were sorry and awkwardly escaped… Hopefully these 3 tips help you out if you’re in their shoes.

1 >> Listen to your body.

Sometimes we want to escape for good reasons. Recognising when my boundaries are crossed, when my thoughts, judgements and opinions get in the way, and when I’m not really present help enormously.

When I take full responsibility for how I show up, people receive:

• More empathy
• More connection
• More wisdom

2 >> Hold space.

Sometimes it’s easy to hear all the talks of ‘presence’ and roll your eyes because what does that mean?

Presence is letting my curiosity and attention span stay completely focused on what they’re saying – not what I’m thinking or feeling.

It’s not the same as dismissing / repressing feelings – thus the importance of boundaries.

It’s more like acknowledging the tension and having faith that I’ll process it when the time is right.

3 >> Know your referrals.

If you want to open up your friend’s feelings, prepare for it! What if they tell you they’ve had thoughts of suicide?

You can call services in your area and get familiar with them beforehand. Have a chat and see how friendly they are. Ask them what you or someone else could expect from a normal call.

Sharing your personal experience is a great way to tell a friend about some random service.