As humans, there is a tendency that we will be exposed to negative information as well as positive information. Your reaction during these periods can largely depend on a lot of factors. The first thing your brain does when a piece of negative information has been passed is to pause. At several times, certain scenarios play in our head that fuels unbelief and doubt. This is why scientific explanations have concluded that denial is the first stage of grief. It takes a whole lot to process information that is not pleasant because our brain has been wired to some certain kind of news. So, it receives an alien subject it does not react immediately. Here are ways you can respond to bad news. Replying to bad news can come in different aspects of your life. Some might be from close friends, acquaintances, colleagues, or anyone you might know. For instance, If a close friend/colleague or acquaintance has just told you about a piece of bad news, here are things you can say at the moment. Although, these instances differ in various situations. Lets’ start with How To Reply to Bad News.
Responding Through text
“I am very sorry to hear about that, please accept my sympathy”
“How would you like me to help in these trying times”
“Is there anything I can do”
“This is a tough phase and although I may not be able to change the situation, I will be available if you ever need to vent”
Responding in person
Try to make intentional visits to the person in question.
Hug them and reassure them that everything will be fine
Do not overwhelm them with so many emotions
If they need space, give it to them. People react to negative information in several ways.
Check on them often
Make out time to understand them and the situation at hand, this will guide your physical interactions in the long run
How can I respond to a piece of bad news involving a close friend?
Take a deep breath
The first few moments they hear bad news, it is very normal to want to scream, cuss or even attack anyone close by. Sometimes, these reactions may not be able to fully leave our memories and we might even end up regretting them in the first place. So, as much as what you have just heard can be classified as terrible news, breathe. Take slow breaths and pause at intervals to calm their nerves.
Suggest that they take a walk
This is advisable if there are in a serene environment. Going on a walk can help you in getting distracted from the negative news you have just heard at the moment. It may not be a permanent distraction but it can sure keep away the random thoughts of self-harm from your mind. Although, this depends on the kind of news you have just heard.
Make them reflect on their future decisions
For every bad news, there should be a follow-up action. This can be trying to cheer up yourself, fixing a problem, consoling a friend, or paying a huge bill. As long as it is bad, their future decisions will have to help in the long run. Take a moment to think about the next thing to do for them while you are in the situation. Try not to help them make any hasty decisions to aid their recovery process.
Think of past decisions
Certain things in life do not come with notice and sometimes we are faced with the reality of dealing with them. Others might have seen the subtle signs and paid little or no attention to them. If this is something that happened as a result of negligence on your part, fix some blocks. To ensure that this does not happen again, they might as well fix the loopholes that started it. Be consistent with this and let them try to be true to themselves while dealing with this
Do not blame them
It is always easy to blame someone else for a certain wrong done to us or a bad situation. However, resist the urge to blame anyone. A good number of the time, we are responsible for the decisions we make irrespective of what happens after. The fact that a piece of bad news has erupted from a certain decision should not give you the right to appoint blames anyone, even if they are actively involved. At this moment, you are only seeking help in finding a solution to this or dealing with this, if the former can not be achieved. This is why appointing blame might only end up infuriating them, or exacerbating the whole situation.
Give them time
Healing processes should not be rushed. With time, everything can get better than it used to be. Although things may have a hard time returning to their original state, there will certainly be an improvement in your reactions to that news as time goes on. So, if they need time away to solve this personally, let them take all the time in the world. Remember, healing is a gradual process, do not rush their process.
Avoid triggers
Certain things can trigger the feeling of hurt and disappointment we have experienced in the past. As much as we may not be able to completely avoid triggers, we can always try our best to stay away from people or places that have once proven to be a harsh reminder of the past. For some, they would rather stay away from things like this until complete healing has taken place. Although, others might want to focus on the pain until it hurts no more. Notwithstanding, it is advisable to avoid anything or anyone that can make them slip into a hurtful phase.
Be intentional
Be intentional about what you want in the long run and how you want to go about it. Be intentional about the kind of people you want to be around. Be intentional about the kind of news you digest and be intentional about your healing. Love yourself enough to want to do better and be better. Do not let anyone drag them back into a phase that once caused you so much pain. Do not expect the process of grief to disappear within a short period. Learn to be content with what you have and the areas of life you have been allowed to work on.
Do not push them away
As much as the situation might be difficult to deal with, as humans we should not have to go through things like this alone. They might feel frustrated with the constant show of support and emotions pouring out from several angles but do not use this as leverage to push them away. Accommodate their empathy, thank them for coming around and ensure that you do this in a positive light. We can make several decisions as a result of guilt, but over time, we will be faced with the hasty decisions we made and the repercussions of our actions. So, in as much as it is hard, they can always draw strength from the people around them. Lean on them for support and comfort. It can get hard, but with time they will eventually get better.
How can I respond to a piece of bad news via email?
Responding to bad news via email can be tricky, although there are ways to do it right. For official purposes, your response should be more intentional and straight to the point. You do not want to ask questions immediately or overwhelm the sender with your empathy. Here are ways you can respond via email;
I am very sorry to hear that. Can I give you a call?
This is terrible news. Please let me know when you are available for a call or visit.
This is quite unfortunate, please tell me how I can help in any way I would love to support you in any way possible.
Please, accept my condolences.
Conclusion
All of these can be used as a more direct form of intent, to show your empathy and where you stand in this situation. Remember, the whole idea of responding is to empathize with the person and not bore them with questions of what-could-have-been. Try to keep it concise and direct.
As people, we can be met with several challenges unprepared for. This can either be a personal challenge or an indirect one. Either way, we should be mentally prepared to face negativity head-on. You may never know how to respond to anything until you are met with a situation that demands your swift response. However, you can always train your mind to react to negative information without the fear of regret. There are many things we go through in life that can be very difficult to come back from. Understand that it is a part of life and the more experiences we go through, the more maturity we gain to enable us to process other aspects of life more expertly.
