How To Support A Family Member/Friend Through Bereavement

Finding out that someone that you care about is dealing with bereavement is hard to hear. The process of grief and getting over the loss of someone is one of the hardest things that anyone will have to go through.

As a friend or a family member, you are going to want to make sure that you are there for that person as much as you can be. However, it can be hard to work out what are the right approaches to take when it comes to helping someone cope with their bereavement.

In order to help you to help them, we have put together some of the best ways that you can support a family member or a friend through bereavement.

Buy them some memorial jewellery

Memorial jewellery is a great way to remember that special person and feel that they are always with you. One of the most special forms of memorial jewellery has to be Ashes Memorial Jewellery. This type of jewellery is made using the ashes of a loved one, creating a beautiful piece of jewellery that you are going to treasure for many years to come.

Take the time to speak to them

It is no secret that someone who is grieving is going to need time and space to process their emotions, however, this doesn’t mean that you should avoid talking to them or leave them feeling alone. You might not know what to say to them, however, just a simple “I’m sorry” and “I am here” is often enough to make sure that they don’t feel alone.

Let them cry

Whilst crying doesn’t always feel great, the process of crying will actually get rid of some of the stress hormones within your body. Of course, it can be incredibly hard watching someone we love cry, which means that we are likely to tell them to stop, but really, the best thing we can do is give them a gentle, reassuring touch and let them process their own emotions the best way that they can.

Take care of some of the most basic tasks for them

Grief can be pretty all-encompassing, which means that even the most basic of daily tasks can seem completely overwhelming. One of these is eating and preparing food. One thing that you can do for someone who is in the midst of bereavement is to prepare food for them. It is a good idea to try and make smaller portions and meals for them, as there is a good chance that their appetite is not going to be as much as usual.

You could also take charge of some of the daily tasks that they need to do, such as opening post and cleaning up their home too. Even the smallest helping hand will really make the difference to them.

Make them laugh

Whilst you want to make sure that someone who is grieving has the chance to cry, there is no harm in trying to make them smile too. Make an effort to get them smiling and laughing. They may feel a little guilty at first, but life will go on, even without the other person in it, sometimes they just need reminding that there are still great things in the world to think about.

Let them talk about the person

Sometimes it may feel easier not to mention the person who is no longer here, avoiding conversations about them in order not to upset your friend or family member. That said, if they seem happy to talk about them, then you should give them the chance to do that. Encourage them to tell you stories about the person, about their lives together. It might make them cry, but as we have already covered, crying can be a good part of the process.

Continue to be there

During the first week or so of the bereavement process, it is easier to remember to be there for someone, however, as time goes on, people do start to drift away. It is just as important to be there when the days and weeks are ticking by. Grief has no time limit and sometimes it can hit you weeks down the line when you are not being kept busy with funeral planning and making sure that your arrangements are in order.

There are a number of ways that you can support a friend who is grieving for someone. The main thing to do is to be present, make sure that they know that you are there for them, that you are going to support them the best that you can, and we are sure that they will find everything that little bit easier.