Zulie Rane, this is an excellent article. Too often when we give advice it’s more about us than it is about helping the other person. We turn unique, complex human beings with needs and emotions into projects to fix.
I wrote on this subject earlier this year, and although we went about our pieces differently, I think we have similar interests and thoughts on the issue.
I would look into a piece by Parker J. Palmer as well. I cited it in my article, and it talks about his experience with depression and how unhelpful his friends giving him advice were.
Thank you for the great work and inspiration, Zulie.