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Tips to a Grieving Person
Bereavement refers to the loss of a loved one while grief is our reaction to that loss. Grief is intense anguish or acute sorrow which can be so painful that the grieving person often looks for ways to escape from it rather than experience it as a process. It is said that we are most healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full.
The best way to journey through the grieving process more completely and emerge victoriously as a better person is to do it under the guidance, encouragement and friendship of others best
suited to give such support.
Be as it may, listed below are some general tips which can be of help to a grieving person who has just lost someone dear to him/her:
- When the hustle and bustle of the funeral activities are over, give yourself space to relax and reflect.
- First focus on what are necessary to keep you and your family going in the “survival mode”. Accept whatever practical help that is offered from friends. This will help you regain or preserve your basic sense of purpose in life. Do not be afraid to verbalise your needs.
- Take one day at a time. Do not attempt to see what you will be one year from now. Anticipate that this will be a difficult time in your life.
- Try to be patient with changes in your emotions. Do not be upset with your own feelings or the unusual behaviour of your children.
- If your mind plays back the scene of the loss over and over again, try some distractions like singing a worship song or speaking to someone who is more likely to lift you up than pull you down.
- Guard your health. Grief substantially reduces one’s immunity system. Grieving also saps up a lot of your energy. Take rest when you feel weak.
- Get in touch with those who are willing to connect with you to minister to you and hear you talk about what you are going through. Listening to other widow/widower stories will also help reassure you that you are not alone.
- Re-establish regular relationships. Letting relationships slide or not going back to church will make it more difficult to return to your friends.
- Stay active. Do not allow fear to paralyse you from returning to some of your normal activities.
- Eat well-balanced meals. Avoid alcohol or any other means to drown your grief.
- Your grief or loneliness is not an excuse to sin. Flee from temptations to entice you into ungodly means to cope with your sorrow.
- In the initial stages of the grieving process, do not make major decisions that will affect the rest of your life. Let enough time pass to see things more clearly before you decide.
- Writing down your thoughts in a journal will help soothe a troubled soul. If you have a religion, stay close to God and do not stop talking to Him about everything you are going through.
- Growth and strength come from weathering the storms of life although we do not choose to go through such challenges.
GGP Outreach seeks to provide a supportive role in journeying alongside grieving persons, and at the
same time, facilitate involvement and care for
grieving persons by others.