Email: Wife suffering a lot due to loss of child. How to help? (US)
Heartfelt condolences. Thoughts, prayers with you. Sometimes, just being there brings hope, when all else feels hopeless. We can’t really take pain away. No advice helps, no explanations needed. Respect one must experience a healthy grieving process to heal. Not be obliged to show brave fronts, shove down myriad of emotions (sadness, fear, love, loss). Allow natural energetic flows. Genuine release, purge, healing in present moments.
During devastating moments we can be empathetic, stand firm as pillars of strength, belief everything will be fine. Best support is attentively listen with compassion. Assure it is okay to talk about feelings, no judgements. Help with practical tasks, chores.
Showing a perpetually fine exterior, perky disposition is deceiving self. An unrealistic burden, an unreal bubble. Our mind is very cruel if allowed untethered freedom. Keeps us stuck in negative mental shackles, loops.
Worth instilling a positive will to patiently persevere with self-nurture. We can be there, whole-heartedly express our love. Be there physically, mentally, emotionally to guide, to hold out a hand, a shoulder to cry, lift up spirit with a smile, be the biggest cheerleader.
Sometimes, all we can do is be there. But, just being there is truly good enough. Take care of self, as well.