How To Help A Family Member Who Has Been Through A Difficult Time
Bad things happen in life; sometimes those bad things might happen to a beloved family member. When this happens, it can be hard to know what to do because as much as we want to help, we’re worried about doing or saying the wrong thing.
The truth is, of course, that very often the only thing that can be the wrong thing is to do nothing at all. Yet that doesn’t make things easier, especially when this is hard to remember when there is so much else going on. Hopefully, this post from a contributor will give you an idea of just some of the many things you can do to help a loved one when they are going through a difficult time or have suffered a trauma. Read on to find out.
Encourage Them To Seek Professional Help
Although it won’t always be the case, sometimes a difficult trauma can lead to mental or physical health issues. If that is the case, no matter what you try to do to help, it is going to be difficult for your family member to see any positives in their future.
This is why the best thing in this situation is to encourage them to seek professional help as quickly as possible. This could be anything from a psychiatrist to a medical doctor to a dog bite lawyer; it will all depend on what happened and how they handled it (or not).
In many cases, even if people know there are professionals out there who can help with their specific issue, they are reluctant to ask for help because they don’t want to cause a fuss or be a burden. This is exactly the time when your encouragement is needed; it could be the best thing you can do for anyone.
Listen To Them
As we said, it can be hard to think of what to do when a loved one is going through something difficult, especially if we have never experienced anything similar. However, one of the main problems that someone will have when something happens to them or goes wrong in their lives is that they feel as though they don’t have anyone to listen to them. They will want to talk about what happened, but they won’t want to be judged or ridiculed (even if this is unlikely to happen, that may not be how they feel or perceive the situation).
In this case, make sure you let them know that you are there to listen. It won’t matter if you don’t entirely understand their feelings because you’re not offering any specific solutions or answers; you’re literally there to hear what is being said. This alone can make people feel so much better about themselves and the situation they find themselves in.
Look After Your Own Mental Health
No matter how many details are shared, hearing about traumatic experiences can be upsetting. It’s possible, for instance, that what they’ve told you has made you feel upset or angry.
It’s crucial to ensure you take care of your own mental health in these circumstances. Make sure you also have someone to talk to, for example, and that you can take your own advice. You won’t be able to help anyone if your mental health is suffering.