How Do I Help A Loved One That Is Greiving.
Watching someone we love or care about go through grief can be heartbreaking. You may want to take away their pain, or help bring some joy back into their life. Greif is deeply personal, and while our best attempts to ‘cheer up’ our lvoed ones come from a good place, there are often no perfect words or actions that will ‘fix’ them. But, there are some things you can do that will greatly help someone experiencing grief.
Listen More than Speak - When someone is in grief, they may need osmeone to talk to. But often, they need someone to just listen, to sit with them in silence, to be present with them as they experience things like depression or anger as they go through the grieving process. Being someone that will offer a non-judgemental ear, patience, empathy, and a shoulder to cry on speaks more than any words or advice that could be given
Give Practical Help - Bring over meals, pick up groceries, help take or pick up kids from school or activities, mow their lawn, find regular needs that might just add more to their plate during a season that some of the ‘normal’ things of life might be too much to handle in this season.
Be Patient - I mentioned this already in the first point, but it is important to know that there is no timeline for grief. Some days they may seem find, other days the pain may be hitting them in big or new ways. Things to not say: “You’re still sad about this?” “You know when my … died/left I got over it faster” etc. Healing is not linear. Grief comes in waves and they’re not always the same size or intensity. Patience and understanding are essential.
Remember Important Dates - Anniversaires, birthdays, holidays, and death date can trigger grief to hit a little bit harder. Checking in or being avaialbe to them during these times can demonstrate incredible love and care for those we love. A simple text, “thinking of you today” can go a long way for that person to know that you care about them and the one they lost.
Encourage Support When Needed - Friends and family are foundational for a person during a time of grief but someitmes the grief goes beyond the support that they might be able to offer. Complicated, delayed, or traumatic grief can sometimes leave your loved ones feeling stuck. Encouraging your loved one to reach out to a counsellor or seek some professional help could be invaluable to their healing journey.
Supporting somoene in greif isn’t about having the perfect thing to say - it’s about showing up, again and again, with compassion and understanding. Your steady presence can be a lifeline in one of the hardest seasons of their life.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with grief, counselling offers a safe space to talk, process, and begin to heal.
