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Legendary
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,914
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Legendary
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,914
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Coping with holiday grief
http://www.westsidenews.net/OldSite/...es/coping.html
Quote:
Mayo Clinic suggests these ways to deal with and understand the pain of loss that holidays can trigger in you or your loved ones:
1. Plan to incorporate the past and present in holiday events. Have patience with yourself. Balance people and privacy.
2. Give a memorial to the deceased. Attend a candle service, display a special ornament, make a memory book or sing a favorite song.
3. Instead of avoiding grief by avoiding activities, plan one or two significant things to try, but remember to give yourself an out.
4. The bereaved need to be up-front. For example, say, "Christmas is a little empty this year without John." Use the name of the deceased to open the door for others to say they really miss him too.
5. Avoid clichés such as "It must be wonderful to spend Christmas in heaven," which can be misinterpreted by those who are grieving.
6. Don't completely isolate yourself, but do take time to reflect on your own.
7. Share your feelings with someone close, preferably a good listener.
8. Helping the bereaved with errands can lessen the stress.
9. Grief doesn't necessarily lessen after one year. Remember for some the second time through the holidays is even more difficult than the first.
Remember that no matter what, holidays, like other days, will pass.
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Last edited by Mari; 10-29-2006 at 08:50 PM.
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