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Helping others cope with grief - sharing grief is a great comfort to the bereaved

Helping others cope with grief isn't so difficult. For the bereaved sharing grief with a close friend or family member can be a great comfort.

A dear friend always said, “If you put everyone’s troubles in the middle of the street, you would soon take yours back again.”

Somehow our own troubles are easier to cope with than someone else’s imagined pain. But don’t be frightened that what someone else is dealing with is too difficult for you to help them with. Someone who has suffered a loss doesn’t need an expert, or someone to pity them, or tell them how awful they must be feeling.

What they want is someone who treats them normally. Just be practical. If you don’t know what to say, just tell them you don’t know what to say. Just give them a hug. Just make a cup of tea. But don’t desert them.  As they say - "A grief shared is a grief halved".  

Quote "A Grief Shared is Halved, A Joy Shared is Doubled" on sunrise background.

How to give emotional help for the bereaved . . . 

Everyone grieves in a different way. Some people are numb and in shock. They can't cry for months, and then the floodgates open. Others cry constantly. Be prepared for numbness, or non-stop talking, or mood swings, tears or anger. It's a roller coaster of emotions.

Some people may seem to be coping very well and not show any emotion. Don't imagine that they are grieving any less. They need just as much support.

Don't be afraid to tell the bereaved you are sorry and talk about the deceased. Anecdotes from friends about experiences they shared with the loved one can be a great comfort. So many people are afraid to even mention their names. Share the grief, talk, help and share some tears.

Sympathy Card with WaterLily and Quote Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no-one can stealBuy Card Here

Tips for supporting the grieving with practicalities

“If you want to help, bring me food, otherwise go away” is how Stephanie Ericcson felt when she was grieving. Sometimes people won't want to talk, but need practical help. Just be there to do the shopping, some cleaning, answer the door, cook the food, and listen if the bereaved do want to talk.

Sometimes during early bereavement, when people are in shock, they may look normal, and say they are fine. They will be numb and not at the stage where they are feeling the full force of their grief. You need to consider what they might need. Are they fit to drive? You can help by taking them to appointments, doing some shopping or cooking.

Often people who are grieving lose confidence and become anxious about things they were quite capable of doing before. They might need help with banking, driving, even simple tasks like shopping. They may find it hard to concentrate on things. So the help of friends during this time is essential.

So don't worry if you don't know what to say, actions speak louder than words.

  • Send: cards, flowers, messages, cooked meals, cakes, hampers etc. These are all lovely. It helps to know that people are thinking of you and that the loved one was appreciated by others too.
  • Offer: to do shopping, give lifts, take your friend on outings, to do odd jobs 
  • Help: to pack up the deceased belongings if needed. Take them to the charity shop if your friend can't face it.
  • Encourage: your friend to go back to work, to join groups, to keep active. 
  • Suggest: a visit to the doctor or counsellor if you suspect they are getting depressed.
Sympathy Card, Blue Lake, Kahil Gibran QuoteBuy Card Here

Wondering what to write in your Card? 

It's so hard to find the right words to say when someone dies. How do you express your sympathy and condolences? 

We have a little book you can download instantly (or buy a paperback for future use) which will help you write your message for any type of loss. 

Sample Sympathy Messages by Elizabeth Postle and Lesley PostleClick Here to Find Out More


Sharing grief helps others to cope . . . 

  • Talk: about the deceased. Don't pussy foot around and be scared of upsetting the bereaved. They need and want to talk about them. This is especially true of children who need a lot of help to understand and process what has happened. If it causes tears, that is a good thing. Tears are nature’s way of healing our emotional wounds. It releases tension and lowers the blood pressure.
  • Be: a shoulder to cry on if they get upset. It's all part of the process.
  • Cry too: share the sadness and don't forget to grieve yourself.
  • Laugh: and joke too. Be cheerful company.
  • Ring: to chat often, make sure they are not lonely living alone, that they are eating and getting out.

Be Understanding of New Friendships or Partners

Approve of new friendships.  Don't be critical if the friendship is with the opposite sex, it may well be platonic and in any case, any new friendship is a good thing.

Many bereaved re-marry in the first year of their loss. This is a compliment to the deceased. It often means their marriages were so happy they want to re-create it with a new partner.

Please support the new relationship, attend the wedding, and wish your friend or family member well. The deceased would not have wanted them to be miserable for good. Just because they re-marry does not mean they loved the deceased less or will ever forget them.

This is a new chapter in their life and is truly deserved after the sad loss of a loved one. It's amazing how new partners can split up families who think it's too soon or in someway disrespectful. Why is that? 

Life is precious to all of us and we should grasp happiness where we can.

Share in their pleasure.

Related Pages:

How to Provide Grief Support to Friends and Family - Five Lessons

How to Write Words of Sympathy

Sympathy Gift Etiquette

Sympathy Gift Ideas

Best Books on Grief

For Remembrance: 

Sales from our pages result in a small commission to us which helps us to continue our work supporting the grieving.  

Heart Shaped Sterling Silver Pendant for Cremation Ashes, Engraved Forever Loved

Memorial Jewelry to Honour a Loved One

Check out our lovely range of memorial jewelry for any lost loved one.  Pendants, necklaces, rings or bracelets, we have them all in all kinds of styles.  Choose for yourself or buy as a sympathy gift. 

Click here to see our selection

Create an Online Memorial Website

Honour your loved one with their own memorial website.  Share photos, videos, memories and more with your family and friends in a permanent online website.  Free for basic plan with no ads. 

Find out more here. 

For USA Residents: 

Please help our colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA by joining in their research study:



SUPPORT FOR BEREAVED PARENTS

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Losing a child to cancer is devastating, and there is a critical need to develop effective supports.

A federally-funded study in the United States (US) evaluating different types of support for bereaved parents is currently seeking participants. Parents residing in the US may be eligible if they lost a child diagnosed with cancer at least 6 months ago and live in one of the following states: NY, NJ, PA, CT, FL, or TN (other eligible states are being added, please complete the survey to check with us).

To find out if you may be eligible, please click here, visit our website at bereavedparentsupportstudy.com, or email us at parentstudy@mskcc.org.

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"The 10 Most Important Things You Can Do
To Survive Your Grief And Get On With Life"


Our free downloadable and printable document "The 10 Most Important Things You Can Do To Survive Your Grief And Get On With Life" will help you to be positive day to day.  

The 10 points are laid out like a poem on two pretty pages which you can pin on your fridge door to help you every day! 

All you have to do to receive this free document is fill in your email address below. 

You will also receive our newsletter which we send out from time to time with our newest comforting and helpful information.   You can unsubscribe any time you like, and don't worry, your email address is totally safe with us. 

NEW BONUS - Also receive a copy of our short eBook - '99 Ways to Spot a Great Grief Counselor'.  Available for instant download as soon as you sign up. Never waste money on poor counseling again! 

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Grief and Sympathy


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