We compare our grief to other people's because we want to know if we're doing it right. Comparison is common in grief, but it usually leaves us feeling more alone. Here's a quick look at where it shows up, and what we talk about in the full episode.
Where does comparison show up in grief?
Everywhere. Families compare how each person is grieving the same death. Grief groups can bring it out. And many people compare who they are now to who they were before the loss, or feel jealous of friends who still have the person they miss.
"I know exactly how you feel" is probably the one thing you should never say to a grieving person. Even with a nearly identical loss, the relationship was different.
What helps instead?
Looking for what connects us. The stories are never the same, but the feelings often are. In the episode, Karyn and I talk about grief jealousy, what to say when someone dismisses your loss, and how to help a person who feels stuck in comparison.
Listen to the full episode
This is episode 59 of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, our I episode. I is for Interacting, which is about how we connect with other people during loss. Listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts, or at griefladies.com.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/28e6XAUmarbk5l8PGqyTai?si=fcRXjJivRx2HITPlS9ivHQ
