Important Friendships

You have likely already heard how important friendships are when you are grieving. Recent studies show that lonely grievers are more likely to develop high blood pressure, sleep poorly and get sick more often. On the other hand if you are well connected you are healthier and life is a little bit easier to take.

Friends are the lifesavers that you turn to when you are grieving and you need to vent. But how many friends does it take to feel happy and loved? Fewer than you might think!

The happiest of people say they have positive, close friendships and that their friendships give them unconditional support as well as help with their stress.

As we grieve, we want fewer but more fulfilling friendships. We just don’t have the energy to put ourselves out there to keep in touch with a lot of different friends. Not only do some of our friends leave us when we become widowed – we also choose to end some friendships. As some friendships end, established connections become stronger, and their impact on us is felt more deeply.

When grieving we may lean towards being loner like. We all need close friends when life gets chaotic but right now we need to focus on grieving and we need to ease our anxiety about the future. Treasure the people in your inner circle, clinging to them as your grieve and heal. But don’t worry about those superficial people that have moved on or that you no longer want to spend time with.

You may have no energy at this point to socialize but if you’re realistic about it, you’ll realize that you will have plenty of time to make new friends as you heal – and you will!

Mary Francis, The Sisterhood of Widows

#thesisterhoodofwidows, #widow, #grief, #griefsupport

8 Responses

  1. Sheila Anderson
    | Reply

    Love this! Thank you

  2. Jacqueline Gamboa
    | Reply

    Yes! My closest friends have been a lifesaver.

  3. Donna Pipes
    | Reply

    This all so true. Having a conversation with someone can be tiring.Some days love to chat and others not as much.

  4. sharon linford
    | Reply

    It’s so hard to believe that I will heal, be happy again, or even just feel safe and content. My husband of 45 years died last May and I am struggling to find some hope that lasts more than a few minutes

  5. Stacey D. Wiley
    | Reply

    I need help. My husband passed away this year, January 7th. I’m not handling this very well at all. I can hardly get out of my chair and the panic attacks I’m having are debilitating. I’m reaching out to anyone who can help me

    • Mary Francis
      | Reply

      Hi Stacey. You sound like the best thing would be face to face counseling. Ask around and see what is available in your area.

      For online support that is free you can request to join my Facebook group “The Sisterhood of Widows – Private Group for Widows”.

      Also please download my three Guides as they are great resources and are free.

      Take care, Mary Francis

  6. Stacey D. Wiley
    | Reply

    Sharon, I feel the same way. I need help

  7. Kris
    | Reply

    As a widow nearly 3 years out I am discovering an element of myself more committed to authenticity than ever before. It may be that friendships that have fallen to the wayside are those relationships that were too shallow to cope with the realities of death.

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