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How to Get Through the Holidays after Loss

How to Get Through the Holidays after Loss

How to Get Through the Holidays after Loss

Suffering a loss of a loved one is difficult, heart-wrenching, and life-changing.  When the holidays are near, it can make it even more challenging to celebrate the joyous times while you are still grieving.  Although your heart is heavy with the loss, the holidays still come and go as usual.  As a counselor in Orlando, we offer these tips to get through the holidays while you are still grieving a loss of a loved one.

Avoid Falling into Bad Habits

During the holiday season, it can be easy to develop negative habits to deal with your grief.  Many people turn to drinking alcohol or overeating, and this can have lasting negative impacts on your lifestyle.  Before you attend holiday a holiday get together, make sure that you are fully okay to do so.  Avoid overeating and overdrinking so that you don't develop any negative habits that can last longer than the holidays.

Let Some of the Joy In

Although it may seem like the last thing on your mind, you should give yourself a little joy during this time.  It is important to avoid turning all the joy and happy moments into sadness or even resentment.  Many people that lose loved ones over the holidays struggle with enjoying even a single moment.  Instead of being sad or angry, give yourself a little time to be happy in the new moments.

Find Space to Grieve

Although many people around you will be celebrating the season, you should still remember to give yourself space and time to grieve your loss.  Taking this time will allow you to properly register the loss, and this is one of the only ways to move on properly.  As you go through the holidays, give yourself the time and space to truly grieve your loss without overwhelming yourself with parties and other obligations.

Prepare Yourself for Triggers

It's inevitable that you'll find things that remind you of your lost loved one, so you will want to prepare yourself to deal with these triggers.  If your loved one had a favorite holiday song or treat, you should take the time to remember them fondly.  Celebrate their life and the moments that you had with them, and let yourself grieve.  Knowing that you will encounter triggers will prepare you to properly deal with your grief whenever it strikes.

By following these few tips, you can get through the holidays after you suffer a traumatic loss of a loved one.  When you are grieving, the last thing you are thinking about is celebrating the holidays.  However, when you learn how to properly cope with your grief, you can still find some enjoyment out of the holidays as you piece your life back together.  If you struggle with grief after loss, you may want to seek guidance of our counselor in Orlando.  Contact us to hear how we can help you cope after tremendous loss today.