12/06/2024
Holiday Grief.
It’s important to remember how individual grieving actually is. What can work for one person, may not work for you and that is ok. It’s about finding what does work for you and what can be a healthy outlet for your grief when you need it most.
Make time and space to remember your loved one.
Making time and space to remember your loved one can be in any way which feels right to you. For example, you might want to leave an empty chair at the dinner table as an act of remembrance. Or, you may want to make a toast to your loved one and take time with those closest to you to share your thoughts, feelings and memories about your special person.
Decide what would be the most comfortable way for you to celebrate this holiday season.
We already know that Christmas can be a very pressured time of year for many due to a number of reasons. In grief, this can be felt even more so due to the overwhelming nature of the season on top of missing a very important person in your life. It is best that you ‘celebrate’ the season in whatever way feels right for you. This could be by allowing yourself to take part in your usual festivities. It could also be by allowing yourself to step away from plans if you’re not feeling so ‘merry & bright’. If possible to make a plan A or a plan B, so that you can choose on the day what supports you best in your grief.
Remember, everyone grieves differently.
As mentioned above, we all grieve in our own way and that is perfectly normal. Especially at a time when we all come together, it’s important to remember that those within your family or friend group who are grieving a loss may choose to honour their grief in a way that might look different to you. This means giving space and acceptance to others in their grief journey at Christmas time.
Make time to practice self-care.
Make time to practice self-care for your own mental health and well-being. Prioritizing self-care within your grief journey could be that much needed healthy outlet for you. Self-care is not selfish and it’s up to you what that might look like.
Share how you are feeling.
It can feel really heavy carrying your grief and all the thoughts and feelings which come with it. It can sometimes feel easier to keep those feelings to yourself, through fear of embarrassment, feeling misunderstood, or in this case, not to ‘ruin’ the festive feelings for anyone else. However, this isn’t true - your grief never has to be hidden away or carried alone, no matter what time of year it is. Try to share how your grief is making you feel with those closest to you - although they may not understand, they can be there to listen and sharing your grief can feel really empowering.
