How to support a friend who is grieving

by Kathy D

An inevitable part of life is facing the death of a loved one - whether a parent, an elderly relative, a sibling, friend or even a young child. No one is immune to the heartache or experience. If ever there is a time suppo...read more

2 of 58

by Rachelle de Bretagne

Having been in the depths of grief during the process of my life, the inability of people I love to understand and support astounded me. Faced with the inevitable that touches all of our lives, human beings turn away from ...read more

by Heidi Marie Fleetfoot

Grief is an emotion which can be experienced differently by individual people. Helping a grieving friend requires that you set aside your own experiences of grief and concentrate on theirs. It may be that your friend i...read more

4 of 58

by Olivia Bredbenner

Grieving can take place after the loss of any significant person, a pet or anything that was special in our life. The loss of a parent, a child or a spouse can be profound. Grief is however a feeling that everyo...read more

by Cindy Abbate

We all like to hear ourselves talk. But when a friend has suffered the loss of a loved one being able to listen is probably the most valuable skill you can possess. Grieving is an intensely personal thing. Anyone who ...read more

by Jan Vroegin

Supporting a Friend through the Season of Grief Often people sum up their support of a grieving friend with a simple check list that runs something like this: Attend viewing. Check. Attend funeral service. Check. Se...read more

by Jim Lane

I'm standing there, over the urinal, and I'm crying. Crying with my head leaning against the cold and off-white wall. Suddenly, an odd thought jumps into my head: "I'll bet this paint color was supposed to be soothing. It'...read more

by Bob Schmidt

A friend who is grieving needs the space, and privacy to do so. Some aspects of grief are too personal to share, even with a close friend. Since every person, and every relationship is unique, no specific method of grievin...read more

by Holly Berry

The most supportive thing you can do for a grieving friend doesn't involve flowers or casseroles, although those may play a part. The best way to support your friend during this most difficult time is to follow their cues....read more

by Matthew Soo

Several years ago, I was enjoying an iced tea and conversation with a couple that I had been friends with for years when they got the terrible news that their 5 year old daughter was involved in an accident. In less than a...read more

by paapu

At times of grief, you yearn for some support to clasp onto. Anyone who cares for you can help you overcome the grief. There is not much wonder when blood-relations support you during times of grief. Such a help and suppor...read more

by Shirley Norling

She called this morning. We both knew it was inevitable. That certainly didn't make it any easier. "He died at 3A.M. this morning. He's with the angels now. They're taking good care of him, I'm sure," she said. Katie...read more

by Max Denver

Not every person feels capable of helping a friend through their time of grief. The fact the you are reading a "how to" article shows that you may feel inadequate but are willing to look outside yourself for ideas and a...read more

by Janay Walker

Those who are grieving the lose of a love one need time to mourn in private and sort out their feelings. However, for them to cut off the outside world completely for an extended period of time could be detrimental to thei...read more

by Tobias Van Buren

SECOND BOSTON TRIP - SUDDEN FUNERAL! June 4, 2007 I wrote you all (didn't know you yet Helium) about a great trip to Boston - Memorial Day Weekend - a kind of 'Memorial Day before the fact'? Well, it was fact this we...read more

by Nikki Fitz

Honestly, you have to know the type of person your friend is before helping them cope with their loss. I look back on the days between delivering my first son, who was stillborn at full term, and the funeral, and even t...read more

by Honey Domingo

How To Support A Friend Who Is Grieving - Grief. There are so many stages of grief, and there is grief for so many reasons, that it only goes to conclude, that there is no one way to grieve. If the last statement h...read more

by Raven Lebeau

Dealing with a friend who is grieving poses the same challenge as supporting someone struggling with a debilitating illness, a divorce, or any other difficulty. The key is striking a balance between being insensitive and ...read more

19 of 58

by Gabriella Samms

There is nothing more powerful then the art of listening. Quite often, it can be the most important requirement of a relationship. When someone you care about is grieving, they are suffering from an emotional trauma tha...read more

by Pat Lunsford

How do you support a grieving friend? The obvious of course, is to listen patiently, giving a sympathetic acknowledgment now and then, especially if you're communicating by phone, to let them know you are indeed listening ...read more