Our whole family keeps telling my cousin she's 'so strong' for how she's handling her husband's death, and I can see it's actually making her feel like she can't show how much she's struggling. We all mean it as a compliment but I think we're accidentally trapping her in a role that's making her lonelier.
More people experience this than they realize.
Well-intentioned admiration can become another weight to carry when someone is already struggling to simply exist through loss.
“Where Are You with What not to say to a grieving person?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.