Holidays are a difficult time for anyone who has ever experienced the loss of someone loved. Rather than being happy times, holidays can bring feelings of sadness, loss and emptiness. It can get daunting to wonder how you will be able to continue on in this world without your loved one. You might even start dreading the holidays and wish you could just go to sleep and wake up after the holiday season is over. It can be one of the most difficult times of the year as confusion, exhaustion, sorrow and yearning become absolutely normal during this time. Difficult and painful, but so very normal.
Spending the first holiday without our loved one is complicated and messy, but you can still enjoy some parts of it. No amount of ideas or tips will ever take away the hurt that you are feeling. We do hope, however, that the following ideas can help you make a smooth transition of your holiday routine after the loss of your loved one:
- Our friends at assignment provider suggest embarking on the holiday season with a “both-and” state of mind, rather than “either or.” Sorrow does not eliminate joy, and celebration does not exclude sorrow. This is a time where you might experience opposing emotions at the same time. While you are happy at a time, it can quickly transition into sadness. But both these feelings have value because they are a part of you. It is important to be present in moments of happiness while respecting your feelings of loss.
- Triggering moments of grief can occur when you least expect it. You have shared memories with the loved ones and that can provoke feelings of loss in an instant because of the happy times you have had in the past holiday seasons.but this is perfectly normal and does not mean that you are going backwards in your grief. These are moments to be valued because they are memories with the one who passed away.
- More often than not, the transition back to your normal life can cause a strain because you may have to act like you are better than you feel. And this can be exhausting. Experts at do my homework for me state that this fatigue is normal. What you should do, rather, is to monitor your emotions and energy. Spend time with people who understand that the holidays can increase your sense of loss and are willing to let you talk openly about your feelings. Find people who encourage you to be yourself and accept you and your feelings as they are, happy or sad, without any judgements.
- The basic human nature is to approach joy and avoid pain. But, our resistance to grief can sometimes create more pain. A good thing to do during the holidays would be to intentionally schedule your time to approach your pain. Create rituals that represent your relationship with the one who passed away and marks this time as something worth remembering and reflecting. Do things that provide a connectionbetween you and them.
- Subject matter experts explain that in the season of overindulgences, people who are grieving might try to numb their feelings of loss through unhealthy escape behaviours. It is not possible to grieve without doing things to relieve yourself. But instead of going the other way, allow yourself to engage in healthy distractions. Talk about your mental health with a professional or reach out to a trusted friend who will participate in healthier activities with you to help provide you with some respite from grief.
- Talk about your loved ones. Talking about people who have passed away helps us to stay connected with them while giving meaning to our memories together. Find a place where that story is received without any judgements. Talk about them to friends and family or anyone who listens well.
- Our friends at best essay writing service very rightly say that memories are one of the best legacies that exist after the loss of someone loved. Holidays always make you think about the times that have passed. Those who grief ignore those memories. Instead, share them with family and friends. Remember that these memories are laced with happiness as well as sadness. It is okay to smile if your memories bring laughter and happiness. And it is also okay to cry if they bring sadness. Those memories were created in times of love, with your loved one, nothing and no one can ever take them away from you.
In conclusion, know that you grieve someone because you loved them. Most people eventually enjoy the holidays again. Hang on to that hope. You will get there. Experiencing some nostalgic or sad moments is not necessarily a bad thing; it’s part of life after loss. And while your holidays may never be the same again, they can still be happy ones as you remember your loved one.
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