Coping With the Loss of a Loved One During the Holidays

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy and most people take years to recover. Sometimes the grief can be fresh and raw as it was when a loved one passed away even after years of healing. The absence of a loved one is especially apparent during the holiday season when all of the family comes together. Here are some ways to cope:

1. Coping with grief in general

Grieving is a complicated emotional process and can be different for everyone. There’s no clear timeline or process for grief because everyone reacts differently to the tragedies in their life.

• Accept the pain and pay attention to it to understand what you need to heal. Ignoring grief will not make the pain go away faster.
   
• Grief can trigger different kinds of emotions from rage or acute sadness. Understand that you might not be able to control how you react to this.
   
• Seek support from friends and family based on what you need.
   
• Always take care of your health by eating well and being active. That will help you through the grieving process.

2. Coping with grief during the holidays

Coping with grief during the holidays can be especially taxing because you’re surrounded by cheer, brightness, and happiness.

• Don’t feel obligated to attend holiday celebrations, especially if you’re certain they might overwhelm you.
   
• Have an exit strategy and leave when any holiday party becomes too overwhelming for you. People will understand.
   
• Don’t apologize for missing out and feel guilty about taking a break from the holidays. Reserve this time to heal and comfort yourself.

If you want to know about dealing with demise of a loved one or want to arrange a funeral, contact Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. You can call us at (928) 855-4949 or (928) 753-2555 for use this form to contact us.