Death and funeral homes Willoughby Hills, OH, are painful realities of life. Want it or not, every one of us comes across the time when a close friend is grieving the loss of a loved one. At that moment, we want to cheer them up, point out the optimism in their lives, make them feel relieved and smile again, and come back to a normal routine.
But it is equally possible to feel helpless if you don’t know how to help someone you love through grief. Many people utter inappropriate words though inadvertently that may spark uncomfortable feelings or make the grieving person feel invalidated.
Want to offer meaningful support and help to your bereaved friend? Here are some simple ways to do that.
1. Understand Five Stages of Grief
Grief is not a single emotion nor does it follow a linear path. Rather it is a mix of various feelings and emotions. According to psychologists, a grieving person experiences five stages of grief namely:
Denial
Bargaining
Anger
Anxiety
Depression
Acceptance of the loss.
You have to understand which phase your close acquaintance is passing through and once you’re familiar with these stages, you are in a better position to comfort your friend.
2. Grief is Not Predictable
Even though almost everyone passes through the above five stages of grief, one person’s grief is not the same as another’s. It varies from person to person mostly and depends on how closely the bereaved was attached to the deceased and how strong their relationship was.
Thus, never try to make guesses about their inner feelings and instead, make sure you acknowledge their pain and be considerate in having conversations with them. Give them all the emotional support they need.
3. Show Them Ways to Honor the Loved One’s Memory
For a grieving person, the memory of the deceased matters the most. Do your basic research and let them know of the unique ways to personalize and celebrate the memory of the lost loved one. A few tips can be:
- Plant a tree
- Write letters
- Arrange remembrance dinners,
- Doing charity work or volunteer in their name
Such activities would expedite the healing process.
4. Keep Checking on Them
Grieving can last from a few weeks to several months. Many people offer condolences at the funeral services and move on with their lives. But as a friend, you should keep in touch with them and never leave them alone for long particularly if they’re experiencing depression or complicated grief.
A simple phone call will just take two minutes but can provide untold comfort and satisfaction to your friend. Offer them help and ask what they need. Generally, the mourner will resist help but at least, let them know you will be there when needed.
5. Indulge in Healthy Activities
Never let your friend isolate himself for extended periods as it can further plunge them into depression. Instead, encourage them to play their favorite sports and indulge in healthy and fun activities.
In this way, you would carve a permanent place in their heart and also help them overcome anxiety and depression.
The grief journey begins before you contact funeral homes Willoughby Hills, OH.