Experiencing the holidays after a loss can be difficult, confusing, and scary. We understand this feeling all too well after losing our son back in 2018. With the holidays approaching once again we wanted to discuss some tips that helped us cope with loss during the holidays. We hope this helps!
The biggest tip we can give is to acknowledge that the holidays will be different and they will be tough. If you can’t understand that the holidays will be different there might be more of a ‘shock’ factor associated with this time. We urge you to have conversations about this, embrace this feeling, and grow with it. It can be difficult, but it truly exemplifies how strong you are.
Giving back during the holidays is always important and can make you feel really good. Making a donation to a charity that was important to your loved one in their name can feel even better! Giving back in their honor allows for their memory and legacy to live on in a special way.
A simple way to show your sympathy and remember a special loved one during the holidays is by visiting your loved one’s gravesite. You can always go the extra mile and leave a grave blanket, wreath, poinsettia, or another meaningful holiday item to show them some extra love during the holidays.
Have you been itching to create a new family radiation for the holidays? A fun and creative way to honor a loved one during the holidays is by creating a new tradition in memory of them! This is something that works well especially when you have young children also experiencing this grief during the holiday season. Have fun with this one!
Our last tip for coping with loss during the holidays is to make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself with events and be willing to tell others no when you need to. It can feel extra overwhelming engaging with all of the holiday events while also processing the loss of a loved one. It is okay if you need to take some personal time or a short break from the festivities! Put yourself first.
We hope this list of tips for coping with grief during the holidays was helpful. We know you are capable of getting through this time but we also recognize how hard it can be. We are thinking about you.