Florida Family Cremations

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Coping With Grief: How to Get Through the Holidays

Grief often intensifies during the holiday season, especially if you have recently lost a loved one. Coping with grief can be challenging any time of year, but holiday parties, festive music, and decorations can all be painful reminders of your loss in a season of “togetherness” and “celebrating family.” Getting through the holidays and coping with grief is possible. These practical strategies for coping with grief can help you heal and enjoy the time you spend with friends and family.

Take Good Care of Yourself

Make sure to take care of your physical and mental health. This means eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep, and taking time for yourself. Holiday festivities are replete with food and alcohol, so be mindful of overdoing it, as overindulging can numb your feelings and impede the healing process. Exercise can often be the best medicine to boost mood and make you feel mentally and physically fit. Even if you don’t feel like it, get outside and go for a short walk every day.

Set Boundaries

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, coping with grief may mean that you need to stay home from certain holiday festivities. If the thought of attending The Nutcracker or a holiday party brings back painful memories that remind you of your loved one, it’s okay to say no. Although people who try to convince you may have good intentions, stand firm in doing what’s right for you when coping with grief.

Reach Out

Although it’s a good thing to say no sometimes, it’s also important not to isolate yourself from others during the holidays. There’s no denying that coping with grief is difficult, but don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call a loved one if you’re struggling. Joining a group that provides grief support for those who have lost a loved one can be very helpful, as the people in the group may be coping with grief through the holidays too. Finding a therapist or counselor who can help you wade through your feelings can also help you deal with your grief in a healthy manner.

Allow Yourself to Feel Whatever Comes Up

The holidays can bring on a wide array of emotions. Feeling joy, guilt and sorrow all within a few minutes is normal. Don’t judge yourself for anything you’re feeling—remember that your loved one would want you to be happy and enjoy the holidays.

Honor Your Memories & Find New Traditions

Creating new habits and traditions can help you move on when coping with grief. Honoring your loved one with a simple nightly ritual like lighting a candle can be comforting and remind you that you’ll always have the love you shared. Getting creative with new holiday traditions can also take your mind off things and help when you’re coping with grief.

Do Something Nice for Others

Those who are missing a loved one during the holidays often find that helping others lifts their spirits. Volunteering to serve holiday meals or donating gifts to children in need not only makes a difference in other people’s lives, it can help when you’re coping with grief, give you a sense of purpose and make a huge difference in yours.

Remember that Coping with Grief is Part of Healing

It’s important to keep in mind that healing is a process—you’re not going to feel better in days or even weeks. Although it is painful, let yourself feel, cry and do whatever you need to process those feelings and let them out. Letting yourself experience pain instead of trying to escape it leads to healing and can make you feel better in the long run.

Contact Florida Family Cremations For Cremation Services

At Florida Family Cremations, our professional and compassionate team is committed to helping grieving families put their loved ones to rest in a respectful manner. We understand how difficult it can be to find affordable cremation services when you’re coping with grief. Whether you’re interested in cremation pre planning, have an immediate need or you’re looking for cremation services for veterans, we help you through the process every step of the way.

For more information about cremation services in Clearwater, call us today at 727-223-5911. We serve Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee Counties, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.