Ten Ways to Help a Grieving Friend
1) Be there for them. You can help, simply by letting them know you care.
2) Don’t avoid talking to your friend. Don’t make the loss the only topic of conversation.
3) Listen, listen, listen. Let your friend tell the story of his loss over and over. It helps him make sense of what happened.
4) Don’t ask for detailed information about what happened.
5) Don’t say, “I know exactly how you feel,” even if you have had a similar loss.
6) Don’t give advice.
7) Be patient. Grief takes a long time – months and sometimes years rather than days or weeks.
8) Continue to include your friend in group activities. Don’t stop being a friend.
9) Let your friend know that she is still lovable and that you accept her for who she is. Hang in there with her, no matter what her mood may be.
10) Hold out hope. Let your friend know that, however bad he feels now, things will get better with time.
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