Home · Email & writing · Message a friend going through a hard time without pressure to reply

Just ask 30 secUnder a minute

Message a friend going through a hard time without pressure to reply

You don't know what to say and fear getting it wrong. Get a short caring message with no fix-it advice.

Updated 17 Oct 2026

The prompt · ChatGPT

Write a message for a friend going through a hard time.

What I know (their words): [details]
Practical help I can actually do: [specific / none]
How close we are: [details]
Channel: [text]

Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. A short sendable message with no pressure to reply.
2. A specific help offer if I named one.
3. Platitudes and advice to leave out.
4. A later check-in line.

Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts, quotes or what the other person thinks. Give a sendable version and, when I've pasted a vent, a one-line note on what you left out and why. This is help with wording, not legal advice. If they may be at risk, say to encourage 999 or Samaritans 116 123. UK English.

Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.

A short example

Fill the blanks, then paste. details: a short note you already have. specific / none: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.

Loading the outline…