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5 Ways To Support Your Friend In Grieve

Helping someone who is grieving after losing their loved ones is a difficult task. You never know what to say to a grieving friend.

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Pooja Suryavanshi
Updated On

Helping someone who is grieving after losing their loved ones is a difficult task. You never know what to say to a grieving friend. Your words and actions may hurt their feelings and emotions. 

As they are already going through tough times, supporting them right can be of little help. 

Here are a few tips to help you understand how you can be a great support to your friend.

Understand The Process

grieving person
First of all, understand the process of grieving. The better you know, the better your support will be. Also, there is no true feeling that one should feel. There will be a rollercoaster of emotions with different levels of high and lows. 

Your friend might be feeling an extreme level of anger, guilt, fear, or despair. Let them cry for hours as it will flush all the feelings out. Also, please don’t force them to recover after a set period. It may take months and years to come out of the grief process. 

Forcing them to recover early may slow the healing process.

Also Read:What Are The Benefits Of Crying? Why Is It Good To Shed Some Tears?

What To Say To A Grieving Friend

grieving person
You might be thinking of what to say after you heard the painful news. None of your words can quickly heal or recover them from the death of their loved ones.

So, when they mention the incident, listen carefully, and let them feel that their feelings and loss are acknowledged. Be present at the moment and listen compassionately. It would be massive support for them.

Give Practical Help

grieving person
In such an awkward situation, the grieving person may not ask for help because of guilt, feeling like a burden, or depression. So, offer them support without even their call. Say, “ tell me how I can help you,” or “feel free to ask for anything you need. I’m there for you and your family.” 

These words will give them relief but don’t just show your help in words instead do it as well. You can offer assistance in the following ways:

  • Arranging funerals 
  • Helping with bills 
  • Taking care of their children like picking or dropping them school
  • Take care of guests
  • Help with housework

Give Them Ongoing Support

grieving person
Just like their grieving and setbacks will last longer in their heart, continue supporting them longer. Stay in touch with them even after the funeral and some more days. The person may not show that they are still suffering inside. So, instead of assuming that everything is okay, be sensitive towards their hidden emotions.

Also, support them on special days like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays that will reawaken that memory of pain. 

Also Read:How Depression Can Affect Your Daily Life!

Check For Signs Of Depression

grieving person
Mix feelings would be there, sometime they will feel depressed while other times they may behave normally. However, ensure that depression doesn’t stay for longer. As with time, their depression will become worse.

So, check out for these signs in your grieving friend to identify depression in them:

  • Excessive anger or guilt
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Not enjoying life
  • Staying lonely and withdrawing from others
  • Feeling hopelessness
  • Suicidal mentality
  • Neglecting their hygiene
  • Hallucinations

If you suspect these signs for a longer time, then take them for professional medical help. Don’t wait for them to ask for help instead take the initiative as being their friend. 

This is how you can support your loved ones in a tough time. 

friend despair support healing grieving Death #depression