A friend describes a difficult week and you begin listing solutions. They become quiet because they wanted to explain what happened before discussing what to do.
Ask whether they want you to listen or help think through options. You can offer a specific form of help if it fits, such as checking a draft or joining an errand. Let them choose or decline.
Stay with the answer
If they want to be heard, give them room to finish and ask questions that clarify their experience. If they want ideas, check the constraints before suggesting a plan. Avoid promising help you cannot actually provide.
The request may change during the conversation. You can ask again when the person seems ready to discuss next steps. Keep urgent safety or professional needs outside casual advice and seek appropriate help where necessary. In an ordinary conversation, knowing what help is wanted makes your response more useful than assuming that every account of a problem is an invitation to solve it.
