Friendship and Support During Grief

After losing a loved one, it is easy to feel alone or closed off. If you feel lost and alone, it can be hard to reach out for help. Thankfully, you aren’t truly alone. Your friends are there to love and support you. Sometimes, all you have to do is reach out.

Supportive Friends and Coping With Grief

Good friends will stick with you through thick and thin. And after the death of a loved one, a good friend will be there to support you in your grief. Friends can be there for you if you need a shoulder to cry on, or for a good distraction. Try spending time with your friends as a way to cheer yourself up. Friends can help work through your grief, but they can also help brighten your day. 

Asking for Help

Many people who are coping with grief feel like they shouldn’t burden others with their pain. But a good friend will understand, and be there for you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether you need to talk out your feelings, need a good distraction, or you just need a hug. 
Sometimes, people try to give those who are grieving space to mourn and deal with their family affairs. In these cases, it can be a good idea to reach out, instead of waiting for your friends to check in. 

What Friends Can Do To Help

If your close friend is coping with the loss of a loved one, do your best to be there for them. When they need someone to talk to, be there for them. If they need help clearing out their loved one’s belongings, lend a hand if you can. If they seem too depressed to go on with the day, spend time with them. If you are unsure what to do to help them, start by asking if they need help with a specific task. Spend a day watching movies and ordering takeout. Or go out and try to get them to have fun. Lastly, if your friend cancels plans because they are too sad or upset to go out, go visit them anyway. Being there for your friend when they are distraught is important.

Helping a Grieving Friend with Self-Care

Self-care is important during grief, and often overlooked. Consider helping your friend maintain their care. Try taking them on a spa day, to the salon or barbershop, or doing something together that can make them feel pampered. 

Support Roles Can Be Overwhelming

When supporting a grieving friend, understand that they are going to be mourning, and will need support here and there. But as their friend, you do not need to support them on your own. Coordinate with mutual friends to provide support. Consider doing some group outings, especially with smaller, more close-knit groups. Supporting your friend together can make it less of a toll on all of you. 

The author of this post is not a professional therapist or counselor. For assistance in finding a grief counselor that is right for you, there are a number of resources out there. For our Grief Resource Center, written by Dr. Bill Webster, click here. 
For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.