It can be hard to watch a man you care about feel stressed out. Luckily, there are a lot of things you can do to help comfort him. The key is to show him that you’re there for him for anything he needs.

Here are 12 simple things you can do to comfort a man when he’s feeling overwhelmed.

2

Listen to him talk about his stress.

  1. Give him your full attention so he feels heard. Try asking him about what’s bothering him or what’s got him so stressed out. When he talks to you about it, pay attention to him and really listen. Sometimes, just talking about his problems can help lower his stress levels.[2] Besides, you can’t comfort him if you don’t know what’s wrong![3]
    • You could try asking something like, “Hey, you seem really stressed. Do you want to talk about it? It might make you feel better. I might even be able to help you out with it.”
3

Ask him what you can do.

  1. Try asking him flat out what you can do to help him. Sometimes, he may just need a listening ear. Other times, he may want your advice or input about what he should do about a problem he’s having.[4] He may even just need some relaxing time watching a funny movie or playing his favorite video game. Just by asking what he needs, you can show him that you want to comfort him and you can figure out what he actually wants from you.[5]
    • Sometimes people aren’t sure what they need to help them de-stress. You could try offering up some options like, “Do you wanna grab a pizza?” or “We could watch that new episode we haven’t seen yet if you want.”
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7

Ask questions about his problems.

Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How can I be supportive to my stressed partner?
    Donna Novak, Psy.D
    Donna Novak, Psy.D
    Licensed Clinical Psychologist
    Dr. Donna Novak is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Simi Valley, California. With over ten years of experience, Dr. Novak specializes in treating anxiety and relationship and sex concerns. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a doctoral degree (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University-Los Angeles. Dr. Novak uses a differentiation model in treatment that focuses on personal growth by increasing self-awareness, personal motivation, and confidence.
    Donna Novak, Psy.D
    Licensed Clinical Psychologist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Really listen to what they're saying—don't just automatically go into problem-solving mode. Then, ask them what you can do to support them.
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About This Article

Donna Novak, Psy.D
Co-authored by:
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
This article was co-authored by Donna Novak, Psy.D. Dr. Donna Novak is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Simi Valley, California. With over ten years of experience, Dr. Novak specializes in treating anxiety and relationship and sex concerns. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a doctoral degree (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University-Los Angeles. Dr. Novak uses a differentiation model in treatment that focuses on personal growth by increasing self-awareness, personal motivation, and confidence. This article has been viewed 54,017 times.
12 votes - 79%
Co-authors: 5
Updated: August 25, 2021
Views: 54,017
Categories: Stress Management

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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