Perhaps you know somebody who has suffered a huge loss in their life, and you want to help them in anyway you can. Going through a tough time isn’t something you want to do alone – try these 4 ways to help somebody you care about come through the other side:
Listen To Them
When somebody is going through a tough time, they usually like to talk about it. This might be gibberish nonsense in between sobs, or it could be full on angry rants. Whatever they want to do, let them get it out. Having somebody to listen really helps. You don’t even need to offer advice or a solution. Just listen and nod. Let them know you understand.
Help Them To Take Their Mind Off Things
Although listening to them talk about their issues is great, you don’t want them to wallow in their sorrow too much. You want them to think about other things, and live their life in spite of what’s going on. Help them to take their mind off things. Maybe go out for lunch somewhere brand new, or go and relax somewhere peaceful.
Understand What They’re Going Through
Everybody deals with things differently. Two people could go through the exact same situation and deal with it differently. The key is to understand the different reactions and be prepared. If you don’t feel like you can do this alone, getting a counselor for this person could be a way to help them move forward. You can look at the infographic below if you need more advice on helping somebody to handle traumatic grief.
Credit to Wake Forest Online Counseling Program
