Will it Hurt Forever?

Grief and loss are challenging anytime, but may even be more so during the holidays.

  • Turn to friends and family members. Lean on the people you care about and who care about you and let them help you. This can be a challenge for people who pride themselves on being self-sufficient, but it can be especially important when dealing with loss.
  • Find a support group, see a counselor or talk to other people who have experienced a loss.  Sharing your emotions and experiences with others can help you to feel less alone in your grief.
  • Express your feelings. Start a journal, write letters to the person you lost, make a memory scrapbook, or find a way to get involved in an organization that meant something to the person you lost.
  • Take care of yourself. When grief and sadness emotions are strong, it can be difficult to sleep, exercise or eat nutritiously. Because the body and mind are connected, the more effort you put into taking care of yourself, the better you’ll feel.
  • Recognize and plan for grief 'triggers.' It’s normal for anniversaries, holidays, and milestones to cause you to relive difficult emotions. Plan to have extra support or healthy emotional outlets around these difficult times.