Whenever an anon or a friend is venting or trauma dumping to me, I can't help but feel indifferent or feel confused, I want to help them because they mean so much to me, I really do, but no words really come to mind. I've changed myself and has learned to front myself for everything else and to blend in properly, but this, no matter what I say it just feels hollow, the usual "I'm here for you", "I'm sorry you're going through that", etc. Maybe I just lack some sort of emotional awareness for this? But I do feel extremely sorry and sad for them, hoping I could hug them or something, so I'm not sure about that.

I find it a little ironic how I can mimic and fake everything, make others revere me and whatnot, but this is something I don't think I'll ever have and it makes me sad.

>>81791994 (OP)
if we're talking irl friends, you should just force him outside and go do stuff together
if we're talking online friends, guy's fucked and you can't save him

>>81792029
I don't have to save them in the first place, do I? If I can provide at least a couple of minutes of solace or calm them down at the moment, make them feel even a little better, I think I'll be satisfied with that.

>>81792093
>I think I'll be satisfied with that.
then take your minor victory and move on
if you can help "fix" their problems, it'd be better but at the end of the day, ball's in their court - they're the ones who have to make the shot, to strive to be/get better

>>81791994 (OP)
>how do you comfort or listen to people
usually i tell them what i think would make me feel better if i was in their situation. sometimes though there's really nothing else you can do other than saying you're here for them. and sometimes thats all they need to hear.

>>81792121
There is no getting better, it's just something awful that happened to them, what you've said is what I've always been doing, but I can't help but feel a little guilty each time

>>81792142
That's what I often try to do, place myself in their shoes and think what would make me feel better but I just wish I could understand their emotions more, say better things and be a little better

>>81792310
if this is something way deep like rape or some broken-family issues, then yeah, you've done all you can
>guilty
what for? it's life, kid - you can't save everyone
you can push someone out of oncoming traffic but if they decide to walk back, what else can you do?

>>81792310
>I could understand their emotions more
no one can really understand yourself more than you. if you dont live the same things other people live, then there's only so much you can relate to. dont beat yourself up for that anon, being there to listen is often the most important thing.
>say better things
such as? you're their friend anon, not their therapist.

That's normal, they're not your friends or anything, just silly online contacts. You don't empathize because you're desensitized from your chronically online activity. You even fail to make a deep reading out of them