This is a good one because people always say to check on your friends. But it never really says what to say/do when they go into a tailspin.

And I think the answer (from my years of trial and error and therapy) is just give them a space to be heard. No judgement. No trying to fix things. Just let them talk.

I don’t have an answer on the thing after that. I dunno, make them breakfast?

I had almost that exact conversation with an old coworker who was laid off.

ok

Elmo IRL

We all need to keep track of our friends in this dystopia.

In all honesty, that's often a good way to respond. Just getting that acknowledgement that someone listened is enough. ^_^