How to Best Support A Loved One

How to Best Support A Loved One

When a friend experiences trauma, healing can be a lengthy and complex process. As their friend, you have a crucial role to play in providing them with the support they need. It’s important to remember that everyone processes and heals from trauma differently, and the best way you can support your friend will depend on…

May 31, 2023

3–4 minutes

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When a friend experiences trauma, healing can be a lengthy and complex process.

As their friend, you have a crucial role to play in providing them with the support they need. It’s important to remember that everyone processes and heals from trauma differently, and the best way you can support your friend will depend on them and the type of trauma they experienced. In this post, I will share some general tips on how to be there for your friends who are healing from trauma.

The first thing to remember is that active listening is key. Make sure to set time apart and listen deeply to what your friend shares with you. It can be not easy to express their experiences and emotions without judgment, criticism, or interruption. Being present doesn’t involve fixing their pain, but instead, says that you hear them, validate their emotions and care for them by being there for them no matter what. Validate their feelings and show empathy with open dialogue that would encourage release from internalized trauma. Share stories and encourage participation in group sessions with professionals where they could discuss their issues without fear or inhibition.

Another thing to do is to encourage self-care. The aftermath of emotionally challenging events can leave them emotionally exhausted. Let your friend know that it’s okay to prioritize self-care during this time and to establish healthy habits or join positive activities that would redirect their focus trying to help cope better with the healing process over the long term. Depending on the situation, kindly request they engage in individual counseling or group therapies. These can provide them with professional guidance and affirmation, provide insights on recovery from the traumatic event, and develop effective practice to self gauge and handle stressors or triggers experienced or identified.

Additionally, you might suggest other beneficial practices that can improve mental wellbeing and emotional resilience skills. Encouraging involvement in physical leisure that stimulate relaxation such as artistic expressions, dance, hiking, listening to calm music, or even getting a massage are common examples. Working with them to create a routine designed to guide them through the process of self-discovery and progressive daily activities will stimulate their feelings and help with their emotional wellbeing.

Encouragement and support go hand in hand. Let your friend know that you are there to listen, do something fun with them, taking them out, or a just giving them a simple text check-in or engagement towards positive recovery daily. Similarly, limit their involvement in the stressors that resulted in the triggering experiences that may retraumatize them. This preventive measure veers their thought process away from the traumatic event that could have triggered sad and uncooperative moments by creating fun occasions or staying actively involved means they begin to live in the moment more successfully without being lost in thought.

In conclusion, supporting a friend experiencing trauma can be a long and complex journey. There are many ways you can help from being there to listen, encourage their self-care, find healthy practices that suit them, and encouraging professional help. Always respect their healing journey times as it varies by the individual, reach out often in-between group sessions and actively communicate to understand their thoughts more deeply, transparently and show empathy to initiate their self-discovery process to self-healing, validation and self-love. The journey to healing can be long and challenging, but with the right support and encouragement from their loved ones and professionals, a meaningful chapter or even positive outcome is never far off.

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