When a friend is experiencing grief it can be difficult to know what to say or what to do. Here are some helpful tips to help someone get through this period of time, but first, let’s talk a little about grief.
Grief is a very powerful emotion that encompasses many feelings. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, there is no time limit on how long someone can grieve, and everyone handles loss differently.
Here are some tips for how to support a friend who is grieving:
- Acknowledge their pain
- Be a good listener
- Be there for them when they need you, and even when they “don’t”
- Express your concern for them and let them know that you are there for them
- Don’t judge them
- Ask them how they feel, but be ready for them to say that they don’t want to talk about it right now
- Be genuine
- Don’t try to “fix” them
- Help them take care of themselves
- Spend quality time with them
- Help them seek out professional support if the grief is unbearable or lasts a long time
- Help them remember the good times they had with their pet
- Respect your friend’s wish for privacy
- Avoid clichés when talking to your friend
- Ask them what they need and help them
- Send them a card, flowers or something thoughtful
Those are a few simple things anyone can do for a friend. Grief is a very strong emotion and can last for long periods of time. We all handle things differently and we are all unique in how we process pain and loss, let your friend know that you know that this is a very difficult time.
