Comment by jrumbut

The author appears, to me, to be looking for a solution to a symptom of a problem rather than at the problem itself.

The original question posed is basically innocuous, and is only made a problem by the environment.

If one gets to the point of wondering how to offer help without setting off a spiral of despair and insecurity, there are deeper issues that need to be rooted out. I also claim, anecdotally, to have seen this sort of improvement happen and think it is generally a thing that is possible to do, and isn't some core part of the human condition (at least to the degree described in the article).