I have been the person to say that. Usually because I’m shocked by what someone told me and I feel the need to say something, anything, to break the silence.

I think you can go down the list though.

• “You’re strong!”
• “Thanks for having the courage to tell me.”

In truth, I’m not a therapist. I don’t have the training to talk to a person sharing their trauma with me. I usually just freeze, like deer in the headlights, and then I worry about how the person who just shared what they did is feeling.