Supporting others with grief can be challenging because there is nothing you can say to take the pain away. Often, we can feel like we are doing what we can to support the people we care about when they are grieving but no matter what we do to offer comfort, it can seem like our efforts are unhelpful. Below are some tips to help you know what to do in these difficult times.
-Do your best to listen without trying to give answers or solutions to the pain. The person who is grieving is hurting they do not need to be fixed but they need to feel heard. It is often helpful for them to know that their feelings and pain is validated. It can be difficult to not try to fix the problem and forcing it may defeat the purpose of wanting to show support.
-Let the person who is grieving know that you are there for them if they decide to talk to you and want to talk to you. Being available and being present for them to share when they need to or want to share will help with the healing process.
-Try your best not to force the person grieving to talk about their emotions. We all grieve and cope differently. They will talk about and process their feelings when the time is right for them. Sometimes pushing them to do so can hinder the healing process rather then help it because we are all different and heal differently.
Last, but not least, it is important for you to allow yourself time to process all your emotions as well, and when you are ready to speak about your experiences you can also do so. If you would like further support in working through grief, please feel free to contact me for an appointment.