I absolutely know my daughter would want me to go on living and I do. It has taken me ten years to get where I am. Although sometimes, no matter how hard I try, it is very difficult to move forward. So I shed my tears, talk to my daughter, Laura (sometimes I still scream at her for leaving) and then I pull myself together and remember there are lots of reasons why I need to live and go on. I am thankful that I had the privilege to be Laura's mother and now Emma's grandmother. I plan to keep going!
This time of the year is extremely tough for people, like myself, who have lost loved ones. Below are some tips for dealing with grief during the holidays. The information was posted December 21, 2015 by Amy Morin in Psychology Today. I hope the information helps.
The swell of grief around the holidays is a common reason clients enter my therapy office this time of year. People often seek help for the immense sorrow that starts surfacing right around Thanksgiving.
I experienced that wave of grief in my own life when my husband passed away. Christmas music, holiday parties, and festive decorations that were meant to bring joy, served as painful reminders of my loss. Like most people experiencing loss, the holiday season was the most painful time of all.
If you're wondering how to get through the holidays this year without your loved one, these strategies can help:
1. Trust that Grief is Part of Healing
Time doesn't heal the pain associated with a loss, it's what you do what that time that matters. Grief is the process by which you heal. Experiencing the pain-rather than constantly trying to escape it-can actually help you feel better in the long-term.
So while it may be tempting to pretend the holidays don't exist-or to numb the pain with alcohol-temporarily avoiding the pain only prolongs the anguish. Eventually, the holidays will get easier, but only if you allow yourself to experience the grief of going through them without your loved one.
2. Set Healthy Boundaries
You certainly don't have to force yourself to face every holiday event or celebratory tradition, however. If attending a tree lighting ceremony or participating in the office gift swap is likely to bring about too many painful memories this year, be willing to say no. Other people may try to convince you to participate, but you certainly don't have to try and please everyone.
3. Focus on What You Can Control
There are a lot of things you can't control about the holidays. You may be subjected to Christmas music in the waiting room of your doctor's office or you may overhear your co-workers constantly talking about their holiday plans. While you can't prevent those things from happening, there are some things you can control.
Think about what you can do to lessen the heartache when you can. It's OK to limit your decorations or shop for presents online only. Pick a few things you can do to assert some control over the holiday cheer and keep in mind, that life goes on for other people and it's OK that they're happy to celebrate this year.
4. Plan Ahead
Often, the anticipation over how hard something is going to be is worse than the actual event. So while Thanksgiving dinner may only last two hours, you could easily spend three weeks dreading it. Create a simple plan for how you'll get through the holidays to avoid extending your anguish.
Often, it's helpful to create an escape plan. Drive yourself to holiday functions or ride with a trusted friend who will take you home whenever you want. Just knowing you can easily leave at any time can help you enjoy the activity much more than you would if you felt stuck.
5. Allow Yourself to Feel a Range of Emotions
6. Find a Way to Honor Your Memories
Create a special way to memorialize the person you've lost. Whether you decide to light a candle every night or eat your loved one's favorite food, honoring your loved one can serve as a tangible reminder that although your loved on is gone, the love never dies.
7. Create New Traditions
Don't be afraid to create new traditions this year too. It's OK to get creative and do something a little out of the ordinary. You can also alter old traditions and make them fit better with the new phase in your life.
8. Do Something Kind for Others
Even when you're in the midst of grief, you still have something to offer the world. Performing a few acts of kindness can be really good for the grieving spirit. Donate gifts to families in need, serve meals at a soup kitchen, or volunteer to help people at a nursing home make holiday crafts if you're up for it.
9. Ask for Help
I wish you peace and blessings.
