Grief and the Holidays

The holiday season is in full swing, and while this means family time, gatherings, connection, and merriment for many, it can also be a time when grief is amplified. Often, when considering grief, we think of physical losses, including that of a family member or close connection, but grief can be a “shadowloss” as labeled by Cole Imperi. Shadowloss illuminates hidden grief, that which does not meet the human eye. We might grieve what might have, could have, or should have been. Grief does not discriminate, so we want to emphasize the importance of taking good care of yourself not only during the holiday season but year-round.

GriefShare is a well-known entity which provides grief support year-round. GriefShare reminds us that “there’s no right way to grieve, grief cannot be rushed, and finding support is crucial.” GriefShare offers in-person and virtual support groups as well as numerous other resources. This free service includes support by way of daily encouragement emails as well as multiple articles and videos.  They also offer many worksheets and courses, including but not limited to surviving the holidays, talking with children about grief, budgeting, a worry chart template, managing an inheritance, a financial affairs checklist, a single and parenting course, and a to-do list template.

GriefShare groups, offered in person and virtually, include topics such as the two-hour Surviving the Holidays event, Loss of Spouse event, and recurring GriefShare groups. A quick search on Find a Group – GriefShare will allow insight into groups closest to you or groups that meet your preferred learning style and topic.

In addition to the aforementioned GriefShare resource, other acts of self-care as it relates to grief include:

• Setting Healthy Boundaries and Saying No to Invitations when it is too much
• Preparing and Planning for how an Event may look Different
• Journaling/Holiday Journaling
• Writing a Grief Letter
• Understanding You are Never Alone
• Taking the Time to Take Care of Your Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health
• Practicing Control of Negative Self-Talk
• Remembering and Honoring the Loss/Anticipated Loss
• Taking Inventory

Lastly, a grief resource available especially for children, teens, and young adults includes The Dougy Center. They offer age-appropriate resources as well as support for the holiday season. For more information, view The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families.

We hope to remind you of the importance of self-care year-round, especially during the holiday season. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup!