I might say something simple like, "sorry things are so hard right now" and then give a few hugs.

I go through times when it's hard to respond even that simply--I read the posts and they seem overwhelming to me and I am not up to responding. So others here carry the weight. There are a lot of us here. On another day, I may be better able to respond.

I have read Miss Lonelyhearts. First time was in high school. I really liked it (read Day of the Locust too). I read it a while later too. And then fast forward to just a few years ago, when my daughter was reading it for school. I thought oh I will read this again. I tried, but I couldn't even get halfway through. It was way too overwhelming and hopeless. I just couldn't handle it anymore. As I've aged, I have less of a thick skin, perhaps. I'm not sure.