justginger
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- May 11, 2009
- Messages
- 3,712
I've never had someone who is close to me lose anyone other than a grandparent. I just don't know what to do or say for my brother, now that I've returned to Perth.
While I was there, I took care of the household completely. Organized food, dealt with the mail, helped the kids, did research for a number of issues and professionals, set up appointments, spoke on his behalf in person and on the phone. It was, and is, a very messy situation - financially and emotionally (take these two issues and read between the lines, if you will). The way I coped was by approaching everything very objectively - I couldn't fix what was really wrong, so I spent my time handling everything else, the things I could organize, learn, research, and fix.
But now he's alone, a newly widowed father of two, and he's just floundering. Is that what has to happen? I feel like there's nothing I can do to ease his burden. He's hurting like I've never seen and I feel powerless to do anything of substance. There are only so many emails you can send that say, "I'm thinking about you, and love you."
Advice? Anyone have experience with helping someone drowning in grief?
While I was there, I took care of the household completely. Organized food, dealt with the mail, helped the kids, did research for a number of issues and professionals, set up appointments, spoke on his behalf in person and on the phone. It was, and is, a very messy situation - financially and emotionally (take these two issues and read between the lines, if you will). The way I coped was by approaching everything very objectively - I couldn't fix what was really wrong, so I spent my time handling everything else, the things I could organize, learn, research, and fix.
But now he's alone, a newly widowed father of two, and he's just floundering. Is that what has to happen? I feel like there's nothing I can do to ease his burden. He's hurting like I've never seen and I feel powerless to do anything of substance. There are only so many emails you can send that say, "I'm thinking about you, and love you."
Advice? Anyone have experience with helping someone drowning in grief?