Grief Support 101: 3 Tips For Helping A Loved One Cope With Loss

When a friend or family member suffers from a loss, it's easy to feel helpless. After all, there are many situations that you just cannot fix – no matter how much you want to. While fixing the issue may not be possible, you can still provide help and grief support to your loved one. So how you can help support your grieving friend or family member? Here are three helpful tips.

1. Ask What They Need

If you are like most people, you will probably try to help your loved one in the way that you would want to be helped. For example, you might give a good pep talk and lots of hugs because that is what would make you feel better. Unfortunately, everyone grieves differently. What works for you, might not work for your friend or family member.

Because of this, it's always best to ask what they want or need during times of grief. After all, you don't want your good intentions to wind up having the opposite effect. Depending on the person, they might want a good hug, a pep talk, or even a quiet shoulder to cry on.

If your loved one doesn't know what they want or need, let them know that you are there for them. Sometimes, just knowing you have support is enough to help you feel a little better and less alone.

2. Keep It Practical

Another helpful tip is to offer practical help during times of grief. Your loved one likely has many things on their mind – and even more on their to-do list. So if you really want to help, consider helping your loved one cross some things off of their to-do list.

You could help with things around the house, such as cooking and cleaning. You could also offer to watch their children if they have any. Finally, you could offer to help make arrangements. All of these practical solutions can help your friend or family member feel loved and supported during this time of grief.

3. Recommend Help

Finally, consider recommending professional help for your friend or family member. While you may be offering lots of help and love, your loved one may need additional help. This is especially true for big losses, such as the loss of a loved one. Both single and group therapy and can help your friend or family member recognize and cope with all of the stages of grief.

While helping your friend or family member deal with loss can seem a little intimidating, it doesn't have to be. These tips can help ensure that your friend or family member feels loved and supported during their time of loss.