05/12/2025
Not sure how to help someone who’s grieving?
You don’t need perfect words, you just need to show up.
When someone you care about loses someone, it’s normal to feel stuck: unsure what to say, how to help or how to show up without getting it wrong.
Here’s a few gentle ways to support someone in the early days of grief:
Let them feel whatever they’re feeling.
Sad, angry, numb, confused, none of it needs fixing. Being witnessed matters more than being “cheered up.”
Help in small, practical ways.
Bring over a meal, run an errand, send a simple “thinking of you” message or just sit quietly with them. Early grief makes ordinary things feel heavy.
Don’t rush their healing.
Phrases like “be strong” or “they’d want you to be happy” often add pressure without meaning to. Try instead: “I’m here. There’s no rush.”
Let them set the pace.
Some days they’ll want to talk. Other days they won’t. Both are okay.
Say their person’s name when they do.
Many people find comfort in hearing their loved one remembered. It reminds them their loss is seen.
Keep showing up, even after the first few weeks.
Support often fades quickly but grief doesn’t. Checking in a month or two later can mean more than you realise.
Most of all, be patient.
You can’t take their pain away but you can remind them they don’t have to carry it alone.
Share this with someone who might need gentle guidance on supporting a loved one through grief. 🤍
