How to Support Someone Who’s Grieving

How to Support Someone Who’s Grieving

At some point in a person’s life, they will experience the pain and distress of grief. It can be a loved one, a friend or a parent, but no matter who it is, the process is the same. Grief can affect people in many different ways, and it is important that those around them are there to help and support them. If you know someone that is grieving, here are some tips on how you can support them and be there for them.

Don’t Avoid Them

It can be easy to think that because someone has lost a close person in their life, that they don’t want to talk or have any visitors. You might think that they want to be left alone at this time, but that is often not the case. It doesn’t matter how you contact them, a phone call, text message or a letter, the important thing is that you are letting them know you are there. Many people feel confused or upset because their friends and family don’t contact them after a death, they might want to have someone to talk to about how they feel.

Share Your Bereavement Stories

If you have suffered a similar loss, don’t be afraid to talk about it to them, although you might feel it isn’t the best time, it can be comforting to them. It will be nice for your loved one to know that others have been through this and survived. Over time tell them that although this is difficult, they will be able to laugh and have fun again. Let them know there is hope. However, you shouldn’t compare their loss to that of a pet as this can make the event seem unimportant.

Let Them Cry

You might mean well when you tell them not to cry, but it can have the reverse effect. By saying they shouldn’t cry, you might be telling them that you don’t want to see it from them. You should let them cry; you don’t have to say anything to them, just let them know you are there by holding their hand or touching their shoulder. It can make them feel a whole lot better, and it will be a comfort to know you are there with them.

Offer to Help Around the House

One way that you can offer your support is to help them around the house. They will likely not feel like doing anything so the offer can be a nice gesture. Perhaps you can to help them if they have been looking to arrange to get a dishwasher like those in Dishwasherguide.com. You can be there to help them with the loved one’s belongings or to arrange the funeral. Anything that you can do to help them will be of benefit to them and will make the following few days easier.

There is no correct way or wrong way to go through the grieving process, all you can do is to help them with their problems and be there to talk to or just sit with.