The Verywell Mind Podcast 205 - What to Say to Someone Who Is Going Through a Hard Time with Dr. Kelsey Crowe
Oct 10, 2022
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Platitudes Signal Non-Listening
- Platitudes and forced optimism often read as non-listening and can alienate the grieving person.
- Short honest lines like "I don't know what to say" or asking how they're doing are usually better.
Help With Practical, Strength-Based Actions
- Offer concrete help related to the person's identity loss, like LinkedIn intros or job leads after a firing.
- Speak to their strengths and take action to reduce shame and practical burden.
Offer Grounded Hope, Not Guarantees
- Share hopeful examples only when they are realistic and clearly framed as possibilities, not guarantees.
- Preface such stories with humility and avoid dismissing real anxiety or uncertainty.