Best friends play a bigger role in our lives than we may think. They can be the ones we trust most and the ones we laugh with often; they’re our partners in crime and shoulders to lean on. No matter the length of your friendship or your type of relationship, you may be left wondering what’s going to happen when they’re gone.
Losing a best friend can likely be one of the most difficult and heartbreaking experiences you have in your lifetime. And whether your best friend passed away recently or years ago, it can be hard to handle the grief from this type of loss.
The grieving process is unique to every individual—there is no right or wrong way to cope. Losing a best friend at a young age may feel disorienting and even traumatic, while losing a best friend as an adult may trigger a wide range of emotions. As a parent, be prepared to support your child through their grief. As an adult, be patient with yourself as you navigate a new world without your friend.
Continue reading to learn about the feelings you may experience after losing a best friend, plus tips on handling this type of grief.
The five stages of grief is a framework that includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. After losing a best friend, you may experience some or all of these feelings. Use these tips to help you cope with each stage of grief:
The loss of a best friend can bring up an array of emotions and can leave you with some unanswered questions. While you may never get the answers you want, ignoring these common feelings after losing your best friend will only make your grief worse.
There is no right or wrong way to work through your thoughts and emotions associated with the loss of a best friend. And there is no set time frame. Here are six ways to help yourself heal.
Inscriptions are one of the most popular design elements you will see on a memorial—single or companion. Ranging from phrases to quotes, dates or Bible verses, memorial inscriptions can be unique and special to the individual, husband and wife or surviving family members.
Once you’re ready, nothing compares to talking to loved ones. Your family and friends care about your wellbeing and want to be there to support you during this difficult time. It’s important that you also connect with loved ones on your own timeline.
Whether it’s taking part in their favorite hobbies, supporting charities they believed in or sharing their life stories, doing something in the memory of your best friend makes handling grief easier. Over time, you may find comfort and even joy in the memories you have of your best friend.
Going through photos and recalling special memories can help you process losing your best friend. If you create a memory book or photo album, do so at your own pace and be sure to give yourself breaks when necessary.
Keeping a journal during a time of grief can help you process what you’re feeling and ultimately cope with the loss of your best friend. Reading can also be therapeutic—books help us escape reality and feel connected to other peoples’ stories. Music can be another escape from reality that connects us to our emotions simultaneously.
Losing a best friend is a unique type of loss that can make you feel lost in more ways than one—sometimes turning into a double loss, where you feel like you’ve lost your friend and yourself. Find a grief support group or reach out to a therapist for help in processing what you're going through.
Memorializing your best friend, in the midst of grieving, can be overwhelming and challenging. If you're looking for support and information to not only help you through the memorialization process, but also the stages of grief, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, The Turning Stone.