Support for Grief and Loss

Grief is uncomfortable. Grief is messy. And sitting with someone you care about who is grieving can also feel UNCOMFORTABLE AND MESSY. I hear you!  As humans, we have a desire to fix things. BUT  what if instead of fixing we could instead learn to bear witness to another’s pain, what if instead of fixing we instead learned to sit in the discomfort. To be present, to be supportive, to be understanding. 

As someone who has been on both sides of this experience, I've seen first hand what an individualized experience Grief can truly be. A reminder to you as you support your loved one that It’s okay to not be okay.

Support for Grief and Loss

Understand

• Understanding in what an individualized process grief is 

• There is no right or wrong way to grieve

• Do away with “the 5 stages of grief” these stages put expectations and timelines on an individual's pain and healing

Process 

• Don’t ignore an individual's loss or pain, acknowledge it

• Ask them about their loved one

• Provide a safe and supportive environment to feel, to remember, to process

•  follow their lead/ respect their boundaries

Assist

• Grief is absolutely exhausting. Profound loss can have very real physical symptoms. If you’re able...Do what you can to take on some of that load: whether it be making a meal, assisting with household chores, or (if at work) providing extra support to a coworker. 

Space

• Have patience with the idea that grief may impact an individual's capacity. Acknowledge that you are there for them, but also provide them with the freedom to have space in their pain (guilt free). Permission to cancel plans, or forget to respond to a text. Patience and understanding that we are human.

Warmly,

Paige