Again, it's important to remember that as friends and family of someone who is hurting while going through a break up, we can't fix the broken heart, but we can support, encourage, and love the hurting individual.
- Get your friend out of the house. This is similar to "distracting your friend", although distracting can be done inside your friends residence as well. Getting your friend away, maybe for a fun weekend get away, can be incredibly helpful (and fun!).
- Invite a friend for dinner, or cook dinner and take it over to your friend's house. Sometimes when a break up happens life becomes overwhelming, and it's easy to stop taking care of yourself. By cooking a healthy, balanced meal for your friend, it will allow them to get the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
- Don't talk badly about your friend's ex. Maybe your friend's boyfriend was a cheating jerk of a guy. Be careful not to say hateful things about him, because if she gets back together with him, that will just be awkward and uncomfortable with everyone involved. Remember that once words are said you can't take them back. While you can affirm that he didn't treat her properly, be careful about how harsh you are.
- Be a shoulder to cry on, even if it is 6 months post-break up. It can be uncomfortable to deal with someone crying, and we sometimes get caught up in knowing the "right" thing to say. However, simply being present with your friend or loved one and being a shoulder to cry on can say more than your words every could.
If you are a friend or family member of someone going through a break up, please recognize that you are not powerless in this situation. There are healthy things that you can do to try to help and encourage your loved on as she or he walks the path of grieving.
Now it's your turn!
What do you do to help others when they are going through a loss or break up? What are some great ways to distract a friend or get them out of the house?
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