When you’re missing a loved one and grieving, the holiday season can be especially tough. The first holiday season after my husband died was an absolute disaster. It’s a constant reminder that they are no longer with you and the emotions can be overwhelming – sadness, depression, loneliness, fear, anxiety, confusion and exhaustion. Can we just skip the season please?
Grief is heavy enough on its own but add the holiday season to it, and it gets even worse. Most grievers dread the first holiday season after they have a lost a loved one, or even the second or third holiday season after.
WHY?
Because:
- Grief doesn’t take a holiday
- Holidays are stressful ANYWAY!
- EXPECTATIONS and MEMORIES swirl around us
- It’s about families and friends and traditions
- We are keenly award of WHO IS MISSING
- The PRESSURE is immense
- Between Thanksgiving to New Year is a powder keg of bittersweet CONFLICTING EMOTIONS that go on and on, seemingly without end (Actually, it probably starts at Halloween)
- While others seem like they may be having the Hallmark holiday, we can feel isolated,lonely, left out, frustrated and like we need to “keep up” and be cheery
- Our hearts can be breaking, our brain is in a fog, our legs are heavy and we would rather stay in bed
Please don’t let the holidays just happen to you. There is a lot we can do to make them better for you. 🙂
We want to help you get through these tough seasons by showing you how to:
- take the time to grieve
- acknowledge your emotions
- find ways to honor your loved one
- deal with traditions, decorations, social events, cards and people’s expectations in a way that gives you what you need
- address the needs of grieving children
- get the grief support you need from family and friends
- navigate the holiday season with a sense of hope
That’s why we created a workshop called How to Survive the Holidays After Losing a Loved One. We have done it many times live and as a webinar and we would like to share a recording of the webinar along with our workbook with you. You can watch it at your convenience. Here is the link to the grief workbook. We have heard from many participants how this has really made a difference for them. So if it interests you, please check it out and please share it with anyone you think may benefit.
Grab a cup of tea or coffee and sit down someplace to go through the whole webinar. Do it alone or with your family.
These holidays can be tough. These holidays will not be the same as the past. BUT they can STILL HAVE SOME GOOD MOMENTS – even in the midst of your grief and pain!
Hang in there dear friend. Don’t give up. We promise you there is hope.