The feelings of isolation and loneliness that frequently accompany struggle are among the hardest hurdles. Even if you are unsure of the right approaches, it is crucial that you arrive to offer support and optimism in a time of need. Continue reading for advice on how to console a friend, family member, or fellow community member who is going through a trying time.

Understand the Grieving Process

There is no right or wrong way to grieve, so the more you comprehend sorrow and how it is resolved, the better ready you will be to support a bereaved friend or family member. Grief does not necessarily go through logical, sequential stages. It can be an unpredictable emotional roller coaster with highs, lows, and disappointments. Try not to dictate to your loved one how they “should” be feeling or acting during their grieving process.

Extreme emotions and behaviors can accompany grief. Guilt, rage, despair, and terror are frequently experienced emotions. A person in grief may shout to the sky, think endlessly about the deceased, strike out at family members, or sob unceasingly. Your close relative or friend needs affirmation that their feelings are normal.

Don’t criticize them or take their expressions of grief personally. Grieving has no prescribed length of time. Many people need 18 to 24 months to heal following a loss, however different people’s periods of mourning may be longer or shorter. Don’t make your loved one feel like they’ve been in mourning for too long or put pressure on them to move on. The healing process may even be slowed by this.

Offer Assistance

Many bereaved people find it challenging to seek assistance. They can be too unhappy to reach out, feel guilty about getting too much attention, or worry about being a burden to others. Make things simpler for them by offering concrete suggestions rather than stating, “Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” as a mourning person might not have the strength or desire to call you when they need anything. 

Provide support

Each person’s grieving process is different in length, but it frequently takes far longer than most people anticipate. Your grieving friend or relative can want your assistance for months or perhaps years. Over the long run, keep supporting. Keep in touch with the mourning individual by dropping by, writing letters, or sending cards on occasion. Your assistance will be more crucial than ever once the funeral is finished, the other mourners have left, and the acute shock of the loss has subsided. Don’t rely your judgments solely on appearances. The grieving individual may appear to be in good health on the outside, yet they are actually hurting. 

Offer Financial Assistance

Some people have a custom of providing financial support to a friend or family member after a loved one passes away. To assist in covering the costs of the person’s passing, this is done. If sending a sympathy card with cash or a check makes you uncomfortable, you can always phone to express your sympathies and inquire about how you can contribute financially.

You might decide that making a donation for flowers or for the memorial luncheon is the best course of action. It’s a contentious issue whether or not you should send money with a condolence card. Many people advise against including money in condolence cards, but occasionally, money is just what the family needs during a trying time. Given the average cost of cremation and high cost of funerals, a monetary contribution may be the most appropriate tribute to a bereaved family in some circumstances.