When your friend’s heart is broken, you might struggle to offer words of support. What can you say to help relieve the pain of feeling abandoned, rejected, wronged, or destined to a life alone?

Choose wisely: “These words, for better or worse, stay with people,” says Natalia Juarez, a relationship coach who helps people navigate breakups. The end of a relationship is a pivotal moment that can splinter your friend’s routines, identity, and future plans, and they’ll remember the way you showed up for them even when they can no longer summon the exact tint of their ex’s eyes.

Beware of common pitfalls that might offend your friend, Juarez cautions, like glibly telling them that time heals all wounds. That kind of “toxic positivity” can “minimize their pain,” she says. And resist the temptat

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