The death of a loved one is hard for any person. So much so that the family might find it difficult to take care of the details, including funeral planning in Ogden. And even if the funeral proceeds without a hitch, it does not mean the people closest to the deceased are doing fine as well.
In fact, most people often sink into depression long after their loved one has been buried. It is when they try to go back to their normal routine where they find it hard to cope with their loss.
So, if your spouse has just lost a parent, here are some things you can do to help them cope.
Let them cry
Most people think that crying is a negative thing. When we see someone crying, our automatic response is to try to comfort them and make them stop. We often do this because we think that by giving into crying, they are halting their process of moving on from the tragic incident.
But crying can actually be cathartic to most people. Also, you should let your spouse deal with their loss in their own way. If you try to make them stop crying, you somehow rob them of the chance to let their emotions out, which is what they are trying to do. Bottling up their pain would not help. It would only make things worse.
Listen to them
Another way you can help your spouse cope better with the loss of a loved one is to listen to them whenever the need arises. When they suddenly start talking about their mom or dad while cleaning the dishes, for instance, it might catch you off-guard because you are not really prepared for that.
If that is the case, do not worry because you are not always expected to offer insightful words of wisdom to bring your spouse out of their well of despair. What is important is that you are there to listen. Most of the time, they just want to open up about their loved one, whom they miss so much that they will bring up any memory regardless of how trivial it is.
Your job here is to listen and let your spouse talk. You can offer a few comments, but it would be better if you ask more questions about their parent who passed away. Let them talk about the good times and the bad times they had with their parents.
Silence can help
You love your spouse, so as much as possible, you would want to help in any way that you can. But, sometimes, the mere act of letting them grieve and not saying anything at all can already be helpful.
Of course, it will be difficult for you as well because not saying anything would seem counter-productive and you will fear that your spouse would go deeper into their sad state. But sometimes, people need silence more than comforting words when they are trying to grieve.
So, if your spouse lost a parent, offer a warm hug or hold their hand while you both sit in silence. They will already appreciate it when they see that you are there to accompany them during this difficult time.
