It is very sad to see a friend or relative suffering or in need, especially when they pretend everything is fine. It's a tricky situation when speaking to someone in this difficult situation, because often a person's pride prevents them from seeking comfort. How to offer your help to an independent friend or relative in this situation requires a bit of clever manipulation and a not-so-obvious plan for helping. If the problem in question is financial, the first response would be to offer them a loan. On the other hand, most people would be embarrassed to admit it and might be offended by the offer. However, instead of outright offering them money, exchanging a service for payment doesn't seem like you're reaching out to them. For example...