Death of a Parent: Teenagers Gaining Support from Friends

Coping with the loss of a parent is a life altering event, especially for teenagers. Even greater than this, the loss associated with a dying parent can often leave a teenager feeling lost, insecure and confused.

As a teenager, to assist you in working through the grief of losing a parent, it is okay to turn, often, to friends and close acquaintances to obtain the necessary help to not only cope with the loss of a parent, but also to distract you from the stress associated with the circumstances of a dying parent.

In these delicate times as a teenager, it is often that friends, more so than family, will play a greater roll in your own emotional recovery. Offering comfort outside of the home, your friends will become the individuals you have chosen to offer support and comfort during the important time of need.

Often, though, a teenager's grief is difficult for friends to put into perspective. Friends often will find the words difficult to come by, finding there is little they can say to console their friend in pain.

In an effort to assist your friends in offering support and comfort to you during the loss of apparent, there are some basic guidelines you can follow. First, you should always feel free to state what the needs of your family are. Sometimes these needs involve assistance with homework or just a hug and someone to cry to. Do not be afraid to express your needs clearly.

Secondly, remember that your friends may, at time, say things that seem out of context or difficult to deal with. Remember, as teenagers, your friends will not always know what to say or how to say what they feel. Listening to them will offer you some guidance in helping them to help you. Also, because grief in the loss of a parent can be overwhelming, often, you may need your friends to provide objective advice during this highly emotional period.