I find that it’s the simple things that remind you of family around the holidays.
– Amy Adams
My dad passed away six years ago, right at the start of the holiday season, making this time of year bittersweet for me.
On one hand, I’m so very thankful and grateful for all the great memories I have with him from my own childhood, as well as those my own children were able to make with him throughout the years.
But, it’s also a reminder every year at the holidays that all the memories with him have already been made. They are all in the past, and no new ones with him will be made moving forward.
Grief. Loss. The holiday season. Topics that don’t seem like they go together, but for so many of us, they do.
Let’s talk about some of the common symptoms of grief you may experience around the holidays:
- Sadness
- Crying
- Anger
- Emptiness
- Loneliness
- Feeling disconnected from others
- Feeling like a fog is covering you
- Sleep changes
Anything you’d add here?
How grief may show up around the holidays:
- Desperately missing a loved one
- Family traditions feeling different or even stale
- Sadness around memories being make without your loved one
- Feeling disconnected from others
- Mixed feelings around reminiscing
- Fear that the heaviness of the loss will always be here
What else would you add here?
Holiday self-care ideas to help with grief symptoms:
- Talk to a therapist
- Journal about your feelings
- Spend time with loved ones
- Make time for exercise
- Share stories about your loved one who is gone
- Be out in nature
- Focus on mindfulness
- Meditate
What other self-care options would you recommend here?
The holidays can be hard in and of themselves. Add in grief and loss, and they can feel next to impossible to navigate. Know that you’re not alone, and you will get through this hard time!
