Grief is complicated for anyone to process, but it can be especially difficult to navigate during the holiday season. Whether you’re coping with a recent or distant loss, the holiday season is a time full of celebrating traditions with family and friends, and it’s natural to feel an overwhelming sense of grief during this time. Remember, there’s no timetable or correct way to process grief, and feelings can come in waves. Understanding how these feelings affect you is essential so that you know how to deal with your grief.
Here are some helpful tips if you or a loved
one are grieving during the holidays:
· Fill Gaps. You might see gaps in
your holiday plans now that you’re coping with losing a family member or loved
one. For example, did grandpa always dress up as Santa Claus, or did your
cousin host the holiday party? Who organizes and brings the food? These roles
will need to be filled. Try to plan how and who can fill these roles ahead of
the holiday season so that it’s easier when the holidays come around.
· Fill Your Schedule. Stay busy if you can
and fill your schedule with events to spend time with your loved ones. It can
help you avoid unnecessary moments of grief, and spending time with other
friends and family can help make the holiday season even more enjoyable.
· Set Boundaries. Though staying busy
is certainly good, it’s also okay to set boundaries with yourself and others
during this difficult time. Participate and attend
whatever feels comfortable to you. Remember that even though there may be pressure
to go to different events and parties, it’s essential to put your needs first.
Commit to the events you think you can handle and remind yourself that you
don’t need to stay the entire time if you don’t want to.
· Feel Your Emotions. Tune in to your emotions
and feel both the positive and negative feelings you may have while grieving.
Remember that it’s okay to miss your loved one and still have a fun time
celebrating during the holidays! If you’re feeling more negative feelings than positive,
or if you’re feeling overwhelmed, reach out for professional help from your
health team, counseling, or support group.
· Honor Traditions, While Creating New Ones. Create new traditions during the holidays with the people you have around you. New practices don’t replace old ones! Try a new seasonal dessert or play a fun game with a new group of people. It will be enjoyable for you and will also help you look forward to next year. It can also feel therapeutic to honor your old traditions without your loved one—this beautifully shows respect and remembrance.
Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer service. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning. We will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us.
Adolf Funeral Home has served the Berwyn and
Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small
enough to provide personalized service. To discover
more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website, or call one of our locations today.
Sources:
https://thepsychologygroup.com/how-to-cope-with-grief-during-the-holidays/ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/grief-and-loss-throughout-the-holiday-season
