By Akram Mondal
Bereavement is one of the most challenging experiences a person can go through. If it’s recently happened to someone who you are close to, you might be wondering what the best way is to support them at this time.
It can be tricky to know what to do or say in such a situation, which is compounded by the fact that everyone deals with grief differently – so what helps one person might not help another.
When a person goes through the different mental stages after someone lost a loved one, that time is more like a fragile mental stage. This time they need everyone’s help.
6 Tips To Support A Friend After They Lost Someone Who Is Close To Them
If your close friend is suffering from this kind of problem. Then you must help them to recover from the situation, but where to start to console a friend who just lost a loved one?
However, the advice below should hopefully give you a better idea of where to start.
1. Don’t Avoid Them
The subject of death makes a lot of people uncomfortable and worrying about saying the wrong thing can result in you avoiding your grieving friend entirely. Try not to do this as it may cause them to feel even more isolated and sad.
Be sure to reach out to your friend who just lost a loved one. Even if you’re not clear on what to say so that they know you are thinking of them and you’re there when they need you. Depending on how close you are and what their personality is like, you could send a simple text or drop by in person.
2. Weigh Your Words With Care
Although you probably feel as though you want to cheer your friend up following their loss, attempting to put a positive spin on the situation might make them feel worse. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging the awfulness of loss and grief, and doing so can help your friend feel heard.
Take your cues from them and let your friend talk as much or as little as they want to. If you can, try to avoid meaningless cliches or dismissive platitudes. Each of the people who lost a loved one is in a fragile state. And this is the time when they actually need the support. So before uttering a single word, always carefully select the words you are saying.
3. Be A Good Listener
More important than knowing what to say is knowing how to listen. Don’t feel you need to solve the situation, compare it with your own experiences, or offer advice – simply be there as a shoulder to cry on. If your friend wants to sit in silence, be willing to do so. In many cases, a hug can be worth more than words anyway.
You can start the prayer for a friend who lost a loved one. That is also going to prove the care for the suffering person. And every good listener can comfort any person.
Hence, during their tough time, people are always searching for a solid shoulder where they can lay their heads and share their thoughts. This is the best place to have the maximum level of comfort.
4. Send A Gift
We normally think of gifts as more appropriate for celebratory occasions, but they can be a genuinely thoughtful way to support someone who is grieving. This list of unique memorial gifts is a fantastic place to start if you’re looking for ideas.
You can also find sensitively worded cards that help you to express what you want to say more eloquently. Whoever goes through the stage after they lost a loved one always requires some special attention. And small memorable gifts are going to be the best way to show your care and love for them.
5. Help With Chores
Tackling even simple household tasks can seem impossible when you’re grieving. Therefore, if you live nearby, offering to assist your friend with chores such as laundry, cleaning, and grocery shopping could be an immeasurable help.
Alternatively, drop by with a home-cooked meal, so they don’t have to worry about cooking – just don’t be offended if they would prefer to eat it alone.
6. Be vigilant
In some cases, bereavement can be a trigger for a severe mental health condition such as clinical depression. Anyone who lost a loved one is going through disturbing stages. And this is the time they require more stable support. Even sometimes they forget to do their daily work like taking a bath or taking food.
If you notice that your friend’s grief is persisting for a long time and is accompanied by symptoms such as alcohol or drug abuse, neglecting their personal hygiene, social withdrawal, and difficulty functioning in daily life, you may need to connect them with professional help.
Compassionate Behaviour! Can Console Any Broken Heart
These are the six tips you can apply to comfort other people who have just lost a loved one. But before doing anything, first, know the mental stages of the people, then give them support. If they are your friends, then do not forget to provide them with the proper mental support to overcome heartbreaking situations. So what is your opinion? Are there any personal tricks from your side? Then share your opinion through the comment sections.
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