everyone needs to vent. when someone is having a particularly shitty day i hate it when people give them bull shit advice or optomistic filled responses. if anything, try and relate to what they're going through or just listen.

example: your friend's mom dies. what do you do?

a) tell your friend he should probably burry it
b) tell your friend i'm sorry, but that he still has a dad!
c) listen and relate as best you can
d) punch him in the face and tell him that'll take the pain off it