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Originally Posted by ZephyrusX  May be they see some sort of value in deflecting attention away from the fact that they don't have the resources to deal with the situation? |
I think it's more that they feel helpless and want to make that feeling go away, but don't really know how, so it is more a selfish desire to make the feeling of being helpless go away in
them, and in the process it doesn't help the person who needs help, which is bitterly ironic.
As you say though, it's better to just admit they don't know how to help, than pretend they know what the person needs. They don't.
Just being there with the person is generally enough. They don't have to say anything. Just listening is more helpful, but people are notoriously bad at listening.