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One of my oldest friends, who is 44, lost her younger sister in a car accident a few months ago. I know she's been struggling with it, and her way of dealing with problems has ALWAYS been alcohol, so although she knows I'm always here for her we don't spend a lot of time together, because I don't really know her 'drinking buddies.' Anyway, she texted me at 3:30 this morning and asked me to call her, said she was only a little drunk (ha!)... she doesn't know how to cope, and although she was raised in a Catholic family she has zero belief in the afterlife or anything beyond, and is frustrated by everyone using that as a way that she should be comforted with her sister's death. Looking for something that will help her, but everything is religious -- other than antidepressants and 3 am phone calls whenever she needs them, how does one atheiest help another atheist grieve?

Jenelle 6 Mar 9
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4 comments

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0

3 am phone calls;Never good news,someone has died,and other tragedies,friends rarely call at that time to chat and plan that days activities. Most of us are sound asleep,unless you work the night shift someplace.

0

This may sound like more hocous pocous but the first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed only changed.

It isn't hocus pocus its a scientific fact.

0

For her:

  1. Al-Anon or similar support (you can adapt the lingo to avoid Higher Power = god;
  2. grief support group (call county health services dept for referrals);
  3. attend a Unitarian Universalist congregation where she can be in community with religious progressives without all the god talk and she can receive short-term counseling from the minister.
    For you:
    Set boundaries, like no calls between 11 pm
    and 8 am, and you only want to be in her company when she’s sober. Or whatever works for you.
UUNJ Level 8 Mar 9, 2019
2

So sorry for her loss. Is she seeing a therapist? That might be best right now.

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