Accepting Offers of Help During Grief

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Let me know if you need anything"

"I am just a call away if you need something."

These things are heard in whispers around funerals and memorials often, but what does that entail? Do we ever ask for what we need? While these come from a place of great intentions, it can be hard to know when to ask for help or how.

The holidays can be a time where we need that support more than ever. Maybe your holiday gathering has changed and you need a new place to spend the holiday. Calling a friend to ask for a sense of community can be a great way to be welcomed in during a challenging time. Maybe someone offers to bring you a meal. Feel free to accept that with a warm smile and a thank you! Maybe you just need someone to talk to or spend some quality time with when the loneliness settles in. Send that text to connect with someone when you're feeling low.

During the holidays, if someone is offering their support, be sure to accept it in ways you feel comfortable. Lean on your support system as needed to be able to go through the holidays as comfortably as possible. Accepting offers of help during grief can lessen the load to allow for more time for self care, processing, and moving forward as comfortably as possible.