Holidays are the time of the year when everyone wants to spend family time with their loved ones. Holiday buzz makes everyone excited. However, it can also be a sad time of the year for those who have recently lost someone. They can feel lonely if anyone has recently died. Such losses can dampen the holiday mood especially when all you see on the television is happiness and family celebration. It is natural for you to feel agitated during holidays. Some of the emotions that you may go through include:
- Grief
- Crying More than Usual
- Motivation Loss for Attending Holidays
- Not Able to Concentrate
- Want to Be Alone
- Sleeping Difficulty
- Anxiety and Irritation
9 Ways to Deal With Your Grief During the Holidays
Here are 9 simple ways to deal with grief during the holidays if you have recently lost a friend, family, loved one, or someone you care about.
- Health & balanced Diet
- Spend Time in Nature
- Be Compassionate with Yourself
- Connect with People
- Limit Online Activities
- Contribution
- Honoring the Loved Ones
- Saying No
- Seeking Help from Support Group
There are no quick solutions to eliminating the pain of a loved one. Here are some suggestions to help you go through loss during the holidays:
1. Health & Balanced Diet
Taking care of your health is a primary aspect. Eat a balanced diet, get 8 hours of sleep, and exercise to stay healthy. These activities will help you feel happy when going through rough patches in life.
2. Spend Time in Nature
Spend quality time with nature. Go for a walk on the beach, in the park, or in any peaceful area to relax. There are many professionals such as dentists and doctors who put nature pictures on display to relax.
3. Be Compassionate with Yourself
Do not be hard on yourself. Be compassionate with yourself even when you do not feel the holiday cheer and mood. Practice Self-Compassion and hug yourself saying that you will hold on during this painful holiday time even if the someone you loved is not there for you.
4. Connect with People
A good interaction will help to elevate your mood. Dining with people who like you and care for you will help you overcome sadness, loneliness, and pain. If you do not feel like talking, then go to a place that is peaceful such as reading a book in a coffee shop or a museum.
5. Limit Online Activities
Social Media is a wonderful tool but it can also make us feel lonely at times. People are always busy posting images of their lives which can bring in old memories at times. This also leads to painful comparisons.
6. Contribution
Contribution helps to enhance mood and sense of purpose. Distributing food at a homeless shelter and putting together food packages are ways through which you can become busy. This reduces pain for you and those in need of extra care around you.
7. Honoring the Loved Ones
Share favorite memories, read funeral poems have a get-together with those who loved the deceased, or do some activity that the deceased loved will help you move on with life.
8. Saying No
Say no if you do not feel like going to a party after an immediate family member’s loss. Give time to yourself to heal. It’s perfectly normal when you do not want to bake three dozen cookies for holidays or host a big family gathering at your home.
9. Seeking Help from the Support Group
Seek professional help from a support group or counselor. A number of hospitals and centers are there to provide grief support during the holiday season. You can also reach out to spiritual people in case you are religious. Therapists help you to move on with life through different sessions.