While some deaths can be seen coming, others happen suddenly and leave those left behind feeling lost and confused. When you have a friend or loved one who experiences something like this, you yourself can feel at a loss for what to say, what to do, and how to help. Thankfully, there are things that you can do to be there for your friend during this time.
To help you know just how to respond in this situation, here are three tips for helping a friend cope with the untimely death of a loved one.
Know That You Can’t Fix Things
While you might have the best of intentions with helping your loved one cope during this difficult time, you should know going into this that there really is nothing you can do to fix things for them. With this expectation, you can let yourself off of the hook for thinking of the perfect thing to do or say and just allow yourself to be there for your friend as best you can.
Be There Physically And Emotionally
As you seek to be there for your friend as they’re coming to terms with the sudden death of someone they love, you should try to find things that you can do so that you can be there both physically and emotionally for your friend.
If you are in close physical proximity to your friend when this tragic death occurs, you should do what you can to be there for them physically. This could mean coming with them as they take care of funeral arrangements or even just sitting there with them as they try to process what’s happened. Oftentimes, just allowing your friend to sit in silence while they think and grieve, without even saying anything to them, can be just what they need.
Along with being there physically, you should also seek to be there emotionally for them. Reach out to them often to see how things are going for them and ask them what they’re needing. This can be especially helpful if you aren’t physically with them during this time.
Take Over The Practical Things
When someone dies, there are all kinds of things that need to be taken care of that sometimes can’t be given the attention they deserve by the person grieving. This is where you can step in.
Some of the best things that you can do to serve someone grieving is to take over some of the practical life things for them for a while. This could include helping them care for their kids, providing meals, cleaning their home, getting them groceries, helping with administrative tasks, and so much more.
If you have a friend who’s experiencing the untimely death of someone they love, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you know how you can help them through this.
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