Holidays can be especially difficult for people who have lost someone near and dear to them. It’s only natural for holiday gatherings to provoke memories of the past, causing you to grieve for the one you love. Although grieving is natural and healthy, you don’t want it to cast a dark cloud over special times with family and friends. If you’re having trouble coping with grief this holiday season, the following tips may help.

Plan Your Holidays

Take time to plan your holidays so you can prepare both physically and emotionally for what’s to come. Be selective of the dinner parties or gatherings you organize or attend. It’s okay to bypass events that are too difficult to handle due to painful memories. At the same time, isolating yourself from all activities isn’t the answer.

By planning, you can celebrate the holidays with loved ones who make you feel comfortable and are sensitive to your needs. Surrounding yourself with supportive people will make it easier for you to cope with your grief.

Don’t Apologize

Don’t apologize for your feelings of grief and pain. Grief is a natural process that can help you heal. Recognize that you will have moments where you feel overwhelmed due to missing the one you lost. Don’t be afraid to tell relatives or friends that you need some time or space to sort your feelings out.

Create New Traditions

You may find that regular holiday traditions trigger your grief even more. If so, plan something new for the holidays that you’ve never done before. Creating new traditions may help soften the amount of grief you experience as well as give you something to look forward to.

Spend Quality Time with Children

Holidays offer an excellent opportunity for you to spend quality time with your children or grandchildren. Keep in mind that they, too, are probably feeling the sadness of your loss. Your love and encouragement can help them overcome their grief and enjoy the holidays. It will also take your mind off of your loss so you can appreciate what you still have.

Reach Out to Others

Sometimes reaching out to others in need can help dissipate grief and sadness over the holidays. Inviting a neighbor to a Christmas concert or volunteering to help seniors do their Christmas shopping could help get you in the holiday spirit. You could also volunteer at a soup kitchen or help organize a toy drive to keep you busy and helpful during the holidays.

Honor Your Memories

Rather than grieve over the one you love, honor them with a special memorial. Light a candle on their behalf or propose a toast to them at dinner. Honoring a deceased loved one will remind you and others that their love will live on in your heart.

At Northside Chapel Funeral Directors and Crematory, we offer professional grief counseling services that can help you cope with holiday sadness. Call us today at 770-645-1414 to start your healing process.