Holidays are always spent with loved ones: this is the image we are always shown on TV and on advertisements leading up to big events celebrated in November and December. But this is an image that is hard to see and think about when coping with loss or grief over the holidays. The grief can begin to be healed in many cases however when the loved one is honored during this time.
Grief comes in many shades and colors. On average, each of the 2.5 million deaths every year in the United States directly affects four people, each of whom has a unique way of dealing with bereavement based on gender, culture, personality, and age.
The loss of a parent can be like losing your life’s foundation. What do you do when the person you have known since the day you were born is suddenly no longer in your life? Coping with the loss of a parent can be difficult no matter how old you are and how well you got along. There are helpful ways to deal with this loss no matter your age.
Acceptance
When grieving the loss of a parent, remember it is okay to feel. It is normal to feel sad, angry, lonely, helpless, cheated, etc. Take the time to adapt to this change rather than try to control it: this is called acceptance. Try to continue with your daily routine as much as possible, taking each day one at a time. Having an attitude of acceptance after the death of a parent will help make the situation seem less stressful.
Take Care of Yourself
When the unthinkable happens, it can consume and take-over your life. Along with keeping your routine as normal as possible, do not forget to take care of yourself.
The holidays can be a stressful time for many people. Those that have recently lost a loved one, or are marking the anniversary of the death of a loved one, may find the holiday season especially difficult. The best way to cope with holiday grief is to mentally prepare oneself for it. There is nothing you can do to prevent holiday grief from happening, and you shouldn’t aim for that. Grief is a natural and healthy part of life. But there is some advice you can heed in order to quell overwhelming sadness that may come with the holidays.
It is just as important for friends, family and other loved ones to help the grieving during the holidays as it is for the bereaved to take steps to help themselves during this time of year. Bereaved individuals need the support, encouragement and time of others during this stressful season to help sooth their worries, comfort their souls and encourage their hearts. Those that are grieving a lost loved one during the holiday season will typically try to maintain the same level of activity as they have in the past. However, they may not be mentally and physically ready to do all of the decorating, attend all of the holiday parties and do all the holiday shopping that had done in previous years. It is important that their friends and family help them take care of themselves and alleviate their concerns about meeting expectations.
Death and loss are unfortunate realities of the human condition. Everyone, with very few exceptions, will experience the loss of a friend, relative, or loved one at some point in their life. Grief is a common, expected, and necessary reaction to loss, and the way one expresses and experiences his or her grief will determine whether that person’s grieving process will have positive or negative long-term effects.
