What to Say When Someone Asks, “How Can I Help?”

When you face hard times, the question is inevitable. Friends and family want to do whatever they can to help you through.

But sometimes when you’re in the midst of surviving, the question, “How can I help?” creates more anxiety. The person asking has good intentions, but you may be too overwhelmed to formulate a response.

Having been through medical and caregiving struggles firsthand, I’ve been asked this question dozens of times.

While I haven’t always come up with a brilliant response in t...