Christmas Mourning
Written by Judi Willetts, Ph.D. and published on 04-Jun-2009.
Why is it harder to deal with loss during the holidays? There is a societal expectation that everyone have increased feelings of peace and joy. Poignant personal memories often resurface. There is general stress of more tasks to accomplish. There is specific stress of energy focused on grieving.
How does one cope with loss during the holidays? Avoid the extremes of celebrating as if there were no loss or not celebrating at all. Allow feelings to flow. Take time to remember previous holidays when your loved one was present. Decide how to alter regular traditions to make them more manageable or more meaningful.
Four tasks of mourning:
- To accept the reality of the loss.
- To experience the pain of the grief.
- To adjust to the environment in which the loved one is missing.
- To reinvest emotional energy into other relationships.
