WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT YOU SAY?
What you say to a person who is grieving--a person who is deeply vulnerable and wrestling with what they are going through every day--can make a difference in their coping abilities, their need to know there is hope, and their longing to know they aren't alone. When you take a few minutes to learn what comments might help them, staying away from worn-out platitudes and what sometimes feels like heartless comments, you become part of the circle of healthy support the griever needs as they continue rebuilding their lives without their loved one.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IT
MAKES A DIFFERENCE
"The quality of social interactions really makes a difference."
A new study from Oregon State University said it best, "It mattered whether a [grieving person] was 'expected' to adjust to the loss quickly and 'get back to life,' or whether they were encouraged to grow and change as a result of the event," Igarashi said.
"The quality of social interactions really makes a difference."
The research findings [in this project] provide new insight into the role of social support and interaction," she said. The challenge for now is to determine how best to
ensure that people are accessing and receiving the social supports they need to cope and grow from significant life challenges."
