In my life I’ve had my share of tough times, emotionally and financial. But the toughest time was losing my parents. My Mother past when I was 10 years, no one knew how to comfort a child. Then I lost my Father as adult, that was tough too. The kicker is that both of my parent died in December.
The Christmas season has always been connected to grief around my parents . January is another month connected to my parents. Both of their birthdays are in January. Yes, it is strange. Over the years the grief has healed pretty much. I do have a good cry in December and then let it go.
Giving people healthy support is not something that is discussed much. I know people want to be supportive, but are just not sure how to in a way that will truly be comforting. Here are some tips to on how to be supportive.
When life hands you a tough situation, you may need to lean on other people for comfort. But what if you’re the person that needs to provide the shoulder? It can be a difficult job since you need to be the one that stays strong for the other person.
How you provide comfort will vary depending on who you’re comforting and what they’ve gone through. However, there are universal tips to keep in mind when you’re consoling someone.
Here are some strategies that can help you provide much-needed comfort to others:
Understanding Grief
If the person you’re helping is dealing with loss, you’ll also be helping them with their grief. Grief is a natural emotion to go through when you find yourself facing a traumatic loss. If you gain a better understanding of grief, you may be able to assist with comfort in a helpful manner.
The Stages of Grief
Grief is expressed in different stages and different people spend varying amounts of time on each stage. Sometimes the stages aren’t even expressed in the same order.
Grief usually starts with the initial shock of the loss and often time’s denial accompanies this distress. Then pain and anger sets in, which may last for a long time. Sometimes depression also sets in before the person journeys into acceptance.
While you don’t want to push a person through the stages too fast, you do want to do whatever you can to help them along to acceptance. When they’re angry, be an open ear and try to reassure them. Help them see their problem or loss from a different perspective.
Depression can be difficult to help with since the person tends to lose interest in the world around them. You and your shoulder to cry on can make a difference. Show them that the world hasn’t given up on them, so they shouldn’t give up either. With your support, and the help of a professional, eventually acceptance will win out.
When someone you know is going through a rough time, use these tips to guide you in consoling your loved one. The comfort you bring them may be the one thing that helps them make it through to better days.
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I am passionate about learning from the pioneers of the New Thought Movement and discovering new insights into Metaphysics, Human Potential, and Self Evolution. Our goal is to provide information and resources that will enlighten and entertain you, while on your journey. H = Here O = On M = Mother E = Earth