SUNDAY, Dec. 11, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- The holiday season can be especially difficult for people grieving the death of a loved one.
"Traditionally, it is a time of family, friends and laughter. But for people who are in the grieving process, the holidays can enhance feelings of personal grief and separate us from what used to make us happy," Cynthia Bozich-Keith, a clinical assistant professor at Purdue University School of Nursing, said in a prepared statement.
She offered the following suggestions to help grieving people cope with the holidays:
- Be gentle with yourself by taking time out to care for yourself by slowing down your pace or pampering yourself.
- Eat a nutritious diet, exercise, avoid alcohol and get adequate sleep.
- Discuss your feelings with people close to you. Talk about the person who died. Sharing memories may help you with the healing process.
- Set limits and be realistic about what you can do in terms of holiday preparation and activities.
- Don't feel guilty if you do enjoy yourself during the holidays. It's not disrespectful to the memory of your loved one if you have a good time.
- Celebrate life.
"Try to ride the wave of emotions and accept that feelings of sadness and pain are unavoidable and are heightened during certain times. The intense feelings will pass, but grief is an ongoing process. Don't ever expect closure. It gets easier with time, but there will always be an empty space at the table," Bozich-Keith said.
More information
The National Mental Health Association has more about coping with bereavement and grief.
