It's difficult to go through something. But it's harder when the people around you make it worse. Dealing with challenging situations is a natural part of life. Unfortunately, people who feel that they have superior knowledge or experience in our situations, often try to offer unsolicited advice that does not help or, worse, may discourage us. In order to prepare for these encounters, it is useful to be aware of some of the common comments that we may encounter and how to respond.