I am admittedly bad at comforting. I am empathetic, but I don’t know how best to express my empathy. I’m pretty bad with words, and I know I can be blunt and overly realistic, but that’s how I like comfort rather than platitudes like most.
Recent events have made me realize I need to learn this. My friend committed suicide, and her dad died a few days ago, leaving her sister the only living family member. My family doesn’t do grief, so I don’t really know how to talk about it. Likewise, my close friend got broken up with her first boyfriend this morning, and I don’t really know how to comfort her because I don’t reach out to others when I’m upset.
So, how can I learn to be comforting and more supportive for people going through grief, trauma, and upsetting situations?