How are you supposed to react when people say "I'm sorry for your loss?"

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

As some of you may know, my uncle died recently...he lived next door to me, and the whole thing was a nightmare, what with my parents, a sobbing nurse, paramedics, LAPD, and a priest hanging about.

Here's the thing; I've had SO many neighbours approach me, saying, "I'm sorry for your loss." What the hell am I supposed to say to that? I don't even know some of these people! But even the ones I do know...am I supposed to just nod my head or something? Seriously, I have no idea and I want to know. It's really driving me nuts.

 

[nightshade]

Depends on your mood, you could just nod and walk away, or you could play it up and make them feel guilty!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Say thanks. Generally.

Or you could scream "ARGH! THE PAIN" and lunge after them, wrapping your hands around their neck whilst wringing it and screaming "MAKE THE PAIN STOP"

But I think saying "Thanks" might be the best option.

 

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

Depends on your mood, you could just nod and walk away, or you could play it up and make them feel guilty!

The thing is, I'm pretty sure that some of them don't really mean it, and are looking for an excuse to chat.

 

[nightshade]

Oh yeah odds are they don't really care, and just feel like they have to say it

 

[Nix]

I generally just say "thanks" and thats about it. It's a tough one to deal with and a tough one for people to say as they don't know what to say as nothing makes it better 🙁

 

[brinkster130]

Thanks.

That's it. Pretty simple. They likely don't want to talk about it anymore than you do anyways.

 

[The Bronze]

Say thanks and move on. If you know someone has died you fell like you should say something but there's nothing really worth saying so you say sorry for your loss or a variant.

I've been on both sides. When my dad died a lot of people came up and said similar. Just say thanks have a chat and eventually it stops.

An aquaintence who I play table tennis with lost their son to cancer recently. He was 15 I believe. What on earth do you say when you see them? It's sorry for your loss or say nothing. It's so awful that nothing feels right and everything sounds awful.

 

[DeadlyDuo]

Just say thank you and move on. Nobody wants to enter into a long conversation about it, but it's that awkward moment where you have to say something to acknowledge what has happened.

 

[November]

I'd say, "we've all gotta go sometime" to less sincere people.

Some in the community expect a breakdown and WANT to be the hero of hugs when it comes to gossip circles. It sucks that people are so petty. Im sorry you have to put up with them!

 

[punchkicker15]

When my dad died, and people said that to me, I said, "Thanks, I appreciate that." For people I barely knew, I was fine with ending the conversation with that. For the people who I thought actually cared about me, I might have talked a little bit more about what was going on with me and my family if I felt like it.