Helping a Friend in Grief

Grief can feel incredibly lonely and overwhelming. When someone you know loses a loved one, they need your love and support more than ever. If you are wondering how to help a grieving friend, there are many simple ways to show compassion during their time of need.

It can be challenging to know what to say to someone grieving. The fear of saying the wrong thing could make you avoid trying to help, but there is no one particular way to help someone through grief. By being open, compassionate and willing to help, your presence will offer support. When i was just 14years i lost both my parent’s within 20 weeks of each other. I remember noticing that members of my own extended family and friends ,found it awkward to communicate with me, as they said months and years later ,they just did not know what to say to me.

Ways that you can help your grieving friend

Make an effort to check in with your friend, even if it is a quick phone call, a card or an invitation to grab a coffee together. You might be surprised how much your check-ins mean to a friend who is grieving.

As your friend navigates the many difficult emotions that grief can bring, it is important to have a general understanding of grief. People who are grieving experience sadness, depression, anger and anxiety commonly. Additional symptoms can include physical challenges such as digestive issues, sleep disturbance and fatigue, among others. As you take time to learn about the grief process, how you can support your friend in meaningful ways will become more apparent.

When you are in the presence of someone who is grieving, it is often difficult to know what to say. Your natural tendency may be to try to make your friend feel better, but in a situation such as grief, no amount of talking will help.

Be sure to pay attention to the amount of talking you are doing compared to the amount of listening. Your friend will benefit more from talking about their feelings than anything else. Listen to their thoughts and feelings and express compassion for what they are experiencing in their grief process.

These are just a few suggestions that may help navigate this journey of Losing Some one