E28: Supporting Someone #2: Why “Sorry for Your Loss” Isn’t Enough—And What to Say Instead

Written By Shelby Forsythia

“I’m sorry for your loss” is one of the most common phrases people say to grievers after a loss—but does it really help? I explore why it often falls flat and share what grieving people actually want to hear.

You’ll discover:

  • Why we default to “I’m sorry for your loss” in the first place

  • How this phrase can unintentionally feel empty or obligatory

  • Real examples of how grievers experience these words

  • What to say instead that brings comfort, connection, and care

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Download the transcript for this episode here.

Shelby Forsythia

Shelby Forsythia (she/her) is a grief coach, author, and podcast host. In 2020, she founded Life After Loss Academy, an online course and community that has helped dozens of grievers grow and find their way after death, divorce, diagnosis, and other major life transitions.

Following her mother’s death in 2013, Shelby began calling herself a “student of grief” and now devotes her days to reading, writing, and speaking about loss. Through a combination of mindfulness tools and intuitive, open-ended questions, she guides her clients to welcome grief as a teacher and create meaningful lives that honor and include the heartbreaks they’ve faced. Her work has been featured in Huffington Post, Bustle, and The Oprah Magazine.

https://www.shelbyforsythia.com
Next

E27: What Is “Meta Grief”? A New Term for Grief Exhaustion, Burnout, and Being Tired of Grieving