Many holidays are depicted as times full of family gatherings and large dinners. They are often seen as joyous celebrations, but the joy can diminish when people are racked with grief. The loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a job can make the holidays feel isolating. Navigating grief during the holidays can feel isolating, with deep feelings of sorrow and anger. Navigating grief takes a support system and patience with yourself.
Set Realistic Expectations
Before the holidays roll around, you should set expectations with yourself and other people in your life that these holidays will look and feel different. Adhering to all traditions or gatherings can be overwhelming for those experiencing grief.
Setting boundaries and expectations will help you feel less pressure to push yourself to do something you don’t want to do. Attending a family event after a loss can be emotionally draining. It is acceptable to create new traditions, rituals, or more manageable schedules after grief. Navigating grief during the holidays can be very emotionally draining. If you need to skip out on certain gatherings, that is completely ok.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
The range of emotions that come during grief can alter how you navigate daily life. Acknowledging that your feelings can change from day to day will help you experience less guilt for forgoing certain traditions. You should allow yourself to feel all emotions, even happiness and joy during the holidays. There is no right or wrong way to feel when going through a loss, as it is a deeply personal experience. Every person will deal with grief differently, especially around special dates, birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays.
Limit Social Media Use
Seeing everyone’s seemingly perfect lives on social media can be difficult during the holidays. Navigating grief during the holidays can be difficult when you see others posting pictures and videos with their families or significant others. Taking time away from social media can limit feelings of overwhelm, anger, and sadness.
Seeing others online can cause comparison, which can make a grief journey more difficult. Try to focus on your own journey and what will bring you peace during this difficult time. Surround yourself with friends and family who listen to you and validate your feelings.
Honor Your Loved One
If your grief is over a lost loved one, you can find a way to honor them during the holiday season. Some ways to honor your loved one during the holiday season include:
- Make a donation to a charity in their name
- Volunteer at a local shelter, or a place they frequented
- Dedicate a park bench in their name
- Prepare their favorite dish and share it with loved ones
- Stop at their favorite holiday shops or events
- Decorate an ornament or candle for them
- Light a candle in their honor
- Hang their stocking, set a place for them, or use their favorite holiday items
- Make a memory book or scrapbook with photos of them and other family
Practice Self Care
During grief, you still need to take care of yourself, especially when emotions are running high. Prioritize relaxation, especially during the busy months when everyone is running to every special event. Meditation can also help in navigating grief during the holidays. Connecting with your body and regulating stress is very healing for many people.
Doing things that bring you peace or help clear your mind is beneficial when navigating grief.
Seek Professional Help
Grief can be all-consuming and lead to further mental health struggles. Seeking therapy to help you navigate new emotions is beneficial no matter what you are struggling with. Therapists are a safe space to share your thoughts without judgment. Therapists can provide you with insight on how to manage your emotions, move forward in life, and still honor what you have lost.
Grief can come from a death, breakup, loss of a home, or a job. Working with a therapist can help you process all that you have lost and how it impacts your current life.
Grief Therapy From Red Willow Counseling
Red Willow Counseling and Recovery offers different therapy options for mental health, addiction, grief, substance abuse, and more. We know that meeting with a therapist for the first time can be scary, but we know that once you find the right therapist you can reap all the benefits.
Therapy is completely individualized to your needs. Whatever you want to accomplish or work through can be done with the help of a therapist. Our team is highly qualified and utilizes evidence-based techniques to treat many different issues. Reach out to us at our Salt Lake location or Park City location to get started today!
