Did you use any of these phrases? Would you say these phrases before or after giving bad news.

You might want to sit down for this...

Psychologists say people go through five stages of grief afer receiving really bad news.

Denial/Anger/Bargaining with a highter power/Depression/Acceptance

relatives pass away, failing an exma, being laid off, being sick, getting robbed, dropping telephone, earthquake

This is hard to say, but...
This might be a shock for you but...
I hate to be the one to tell you this...
I'm sorry to say this...
I'm sorry to be the one to say this...
I'm sorry to put you in this position...

I wish it wasn't true...
I know it's difficult for you to accept it..

I'm not gonna beat around the bush...

There's no easy way to say this...

You might want to sit down for this..

I know this is going to come as a shock to you...

If there's anything I can do

I wish there was something I could say

I understand how difficult this must be for you..