6 Phrases You Should Never Say When Your Partner Is Having A Bad Day

When your partner is having a bad day, you want to do what you can to help them feel a little better — not make an already crappy day worse.

Unfortunately, sometimes even well-meaning comments have a way of doing just that. That’s why we asked relationship experts which phrases you probably want to avoid when your partner is having a rough go of it.

“Probably” is the key word here, as what people do and do not want to hear in this situation can vary quite a bit.

“Some people might appreciate a problem-solving approach, whereas others may just want you to listen,” Toronto-based relationship expert Jessica O’Reilly, who is also the resident sexologist at Astroglide, told HuffPost. “Your partner may feel invalidated if you offer them solutions, while another may feel supported and empowered.”

We have a tendency to support others the same way we’d like to be supported. But sometimes that’s not the best course of action, O’Reilly said.

“This golden rule — ‘Treat others how you want to be treated’ — doesn’t always apply since our needs, experiences and expectations are unique,” she explained. “Instead, we need to consider the platinum rule: Treat others how they want to be treated — within reason.”

Read on to find out which unhelpful phrases you should consider avoiding when your partner is having a tough time.

1. “Hey, it could be worse.”

While this remark is typically said with positive intentions, it minimizes your partner’s feelings about the situation at hand, said relationship expert Amy Chan, founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp.

“It can make them feel guilty for being upset and suggest that their feelings aren’t valid or worthy of attention,” she told HuffPost. “This comparison rarely provides comfort and often