Supporting Grieving Loved Ones
- Khenyia Williams
- Jul 9
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 29
What happens when you are not grieving, but your loved one is? Do you try to help them “get over it?” Do you try to distract them from those “painful” memories? How do you show support when your loved one is grieving?
The Value In “Being Present”
Commonly, families and friends offer support to the bereaved as a means of satisfying a social cue, as in upholding the “polite things to say when someone is grieving” social rule. Let us avoid empty promises. Be real with your friends and family. The best way to help is to be present.
There will be times when your grieving loved one will need a listening ear. Grieving individuals are trying to process the new reality in which their loved one is no longer with them. As you can imagine, they are in a very sensitive state. SEE EXPECTED GRIEVING SYMPTOMS ENTRY.
When supporting someone who is grieving, it is best to let them lead the conversation. Overwhelming them with questions or pressuring them with unsolicited advice can lead to the suppression of emotions instead of their release. Providing a nonjudgmental space for your loved one to express themselves is one of the best ways to support them.
References
Hospice Of Cincinnati. “5 Ways to Support Grieving Friends, Family When You’re Not Sure How – HOC Navigators.”
Hospice of Cincinnati, hospiceofcincinnati.org/5-ways-to-support-grieving-friends-family-when-youre-not-sure-how/
Mind. “Helping Someone Who Is Experiencing Grief.” Www.mind.org.uk, Dec. 2023, www.mind.org.uk/information