What Actually Helps Someone Who Is Grieving
Joanne Cacciatore · 12 minutes
Dr Joanne Cacciatore sets out why others are essential when we grieve, with research on loneliness as a profound threat to health. She reports a study asking grieving people what helped: platitudes, rushing grief and avoidance hurt, while the most helpful support was emotional, remembering the person who died, speaking their name and listening. And to her surprise, pets and animals outranked every human group.
Dr Joanne Cacciatore sets out why others are essential when we grieve, with research on loneliness as a profound threat to health. She reports a study asking grieving people what helped: platitudes, rushing grief and avoidance hurt, while the most helpful support was emotional, remembering the person who died, speaking their name and listening. And to her surprise, pets and animals outranked every human group.
Grief and loss Relationships and family