Guide for Consoling a Grieving Friend

Funeral homes Hellertown, PA, serve an essential purpose. We all experience a situation where our closest friends are coping with the pain of losing a loved one. It seems a herculean task to console them no matter how desperately you want to because of the paucity of credible information about how to approach and sympathize with a grieving person.

We are here with a set of instructions to help your bereaved friend navigate through the grief journey.

Acknowledge their Emotions

The first thing you should do is to remind them you accept their feelings. Grief is not a single emotion but a mix of painful emotions including denial, bargaining, anger, anxiety and depression, and numbness. Only your friend knows what they are going through. 

So, never “guess” their emotions just because you have been through such an experience. Avoid saying something insensitive that may spark uncomfortable feelings make them feel invalidated.

Not Everyone Grieves in the Same Way 

Grief is not a linear journey nor does everyone share the same grief journey. The duration and intensity of grief vary significantly from person to person and depend on the nature of the relationship between the bereaved and the lost loved one.

With this in mind, be considerate in your conversations and give them all the emotional support they need. Focus on cheering them up, pointing out the positives in their lives, making them feel relieved.

Help Them Honor the Memory

Stating the obvious, psychologists opine that the memory of the departed soul matters the most for the grieving person particularly during the first couple of weeks. Drawing on your knowledge, guide them to personalize the memory of the lost loved one in unique ways.

For instance, planting a tree, completing their unfished tasks, writing letters, having memory dinners, doing charity work, or volunteering. Such activities play a great role in expediting the healing process. 

Hang Around With Them

Without violating their private space, try to spend regular time with them toward any negative thoughts off their head. Grieving can last from a few weeks after a loss and can take its toll when the person seems to be doing well.

Thus, continue checking in on them and keep following up on their health and offer support, if need be. Often, a simple phone call can provide untold comfort and satisfaction to your grieving friend.

Encourage Them to Indulge in Healthy Activities

Grieving is a natural response to loss but it shouldn’t get them carried away for extended periods as it might translate into "complicated grief".

Motivate your friend to stay positive and active in life. It's easier said than done but you can make it happen by convincing them to participate in healthy and fun activities and arranging special events for them and inviting other buddies as well if possible. Similarly, make sure your friend is not indulging in unhealthy activities like smoking or drinking to ease off the pain.

After all, that’s what friends are for. And of course, attend the service at funeral homes Hellertown, PA.