Yahoo – Sheryl Sandberg’s New Book Addresses a Part of Grief That No One Talks About

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg is no stranger to grief and painful the journey of healing can be. She lost her husband suddenly while on vacation two years ago and has been open about her struggles. In her new book, Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, she details the horror of his loss, and the often lonely journey that faced her. People didn’t know what to say, so many simply didn’t say anything. She says she felt like a “ghost.”

The truth is that it isn’t easy to know what to say. We want to help, but supporting someone who has suffered a loss can be hard, and scary.

So what should you say to support a grieving friend or loved one? In surveying professionals, YahooBeauty has compiled a good list of reminders to keep in mind and I was very pleased to help out. To read the full post, click HERE.

Licensed clinical psychologist Alicia H. Clark tells Yahoo Beauty that it’s a good idea to follow the lead of the person who is grieving (Sandberg mentioned in her Facebook post that at one of her children’s events, she kept her eyes on the ground because she didn’t want to talk, but other times she was willing). “Aim to be supportive and focused on their experience — not yours,” she says. “Ask them how they’re doing and offer to be helpful.”