Dealing With Grief, During The Holidays

This week marks the official start of the holiday season.

Most folks love the excitement in the air, the brisk weather, and the holiday decorations. And let’s be real, people are usually more chipper during this time of the year.

Amid the happy-filled times for many, this time of year can be tough.

During the holidays, dealing with grief can be overwhelming. Whether you have recently experienced the loss of a loved one or if you have been dealing with a loss for a while (there is no set amount of time to grieve), the holidays can be a particularly hard time.

For me, the holidays bring the ache of missing my dad and my grandfather. The sadness of them and other loved ones not being here is not easier, but I have learned to cope with the sadness. That nudging, empty, achy feeling that grief stirs up tends to be a bit more intense as the holidays approach.

If you are grieving do not be ashamed of the feelings you have. Feeling sadness and missing those who are no longer with us is completely OK.

If you do feel down and the weight of those feelings is too heavy, please reach out to a family member, friend, therapist, or pastor. You do not need to hold all the feelings of grief inside. You should not hold it all in. No one should expect you to hold it all in.

Here are a few things that have helped me in my grieving process and may be helpful to you: