Reach out to friends and family

Friends and family are great support systems for remembering the life of the deceased and discussing how the grief might be affecting you.

Processing grief together can help you connect with other friends and family members who are dealing with the same loss or a similar situation

Talking to others and learning where they might be in the grieving process will help you process your own grief.

Many people find it helpful to lean on shared support systems through family when going through grief.

Likewise, even those friends and family who might not have experienced this loss personally can still provide important support for you if they are empathetic and good listeners.

One potentially challenging aspect for many people is that not all family members will respond to grief in the same way.

Some family members might struggle to talk about the issue entirely, while others might prefer not to talk about it until some time has passed, and some may have difficulty accepting that the death is real.

Sometimes it’s not easy to tell what kind of help is needed, but remain open to possibilities during this time.

Formal or informal support from the people in your life can make a big difference for your own processing.

If you have specific requests for your loved ones, share those and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

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If you need assistance from family or friends during this time, keep your requests clear and simple.

You don’t need to justify why you’re asking for help or “prove” that you need assistance.

Those people who support you will understand and should be happy to help.

Here are some tips for asking for help:

  • Be direct - If you need help, make it clear to those who can help you. Don't expect people to pick up on subtle hints or just notice that you need help. If you would like help with a specific task, just ask. Example: “Would you be able to help with childcare on Wednesday afternoons for a few weeks?”
  • Be specific - It is easier for people to commit to help you when they know exactly what you need, when you need it, and the expected commitment.
  • Listen to people's suggestions - Allow people to offer what they might be able to help with, too. If someone makes a specific offer for assistance, don't reject it just because you hadn't thought of it, consider that offer.

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