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How to Comfort Someone
Who Is Suffering from An Illness
2 Valuable Suggestions
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There are lots of situations in life where we can be unsure of what the right thing to say is.
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When one of our loved ones is battling an illness, we can be left lost for words and not sure how to best support them.
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Each person is individual. Whilst some patients like constant care and reassurance, others bottle their feelings up and want to be left alone. So just how can we provide support for our loved ones when they’re ill?
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How to Comfort Someone Who Is Suffering from An Illness: Suggestion #1
Avoid The Cliches
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It can be tempting to blurt out some of the platitudes that we’re all used to hearing.
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Whilst we have the best intentions, it’s really not wise to tell someone ‘it’ll all be okay.’ The problem with this statement is that you don’t know it to be true, and your loved one knows it too.
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So instead of being honest and open with them, you are beginning a dialogue by saying what you think you should say. It’s easily done.
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It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is very ill. Just approach the situation and talk to your loved one as you normally would. Would you normally tell them something that you didn’t know to be true? Probably not.
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Instead, express how sorry you are that they are ill and that their families are suffering. This is a genuine and thoughtful way to show your concern.
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Similarly, try not to tell a patient that they have to stay positive. This might actually make them quite angry.
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Moreover, there is no rule about how an ill person has to behave. It’s unrealistic to presume that your loved one will cope in the same way as everyone else. So telling them how to act is definitely not a good idea.
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The likelihood is you also don’t understand the pain or feelings they have. Try and understand how they feel rather than telling them how to feel.
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How to Comfort Someone Who Is Suffering from An Illness: Suggestion #2
Offer Practical Help
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Most of us will tell someone who is sick, ‘let me know if you need anything.’
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Whilst we do mean it with absolute sincerity, the chances are the person who is ill will feel uncomfortable asking us.
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Be more specific with what you are offering instead.
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For instance, if they are in hospital they may need somebody to get their groceries, collect their mail, call their friends etc. Offer to do these things instead of a blanket approach.
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They’re far more likely to feel comfortable saying ‘yes‘ to help rather than having to ask for it.
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You could even offer to attend a support group with them. These kinds of groups offer all sort of things. They can help with bills, information, advice, and provide a network of support for your loved one.
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