I have a friend who lost a loved one on Christmas Day and has been unable to celebrate Christmas ever since. I have another friend whose family decided that it was important to celebrate each and every holiday and milestone in memory of their late loved one. The same with another friend who always celebrates her anniversary even though her husband died a few years ago.
We all grieve in different ways and no one way is right or wrong, says Carol Schoneberg. She’s an end-of-life educator and bereavement support counselor at Hospice of Southern Maine HSM). I can vouch for her expertise and her tenderness because she helped me and some of my siblings when we were struggling with the death of our father in December 2009.
The holidays
Getting through the holidays can be especially difficult for many people who are grieving, whether their loved one passed away yesterday or many years ago. Carol has some tips that may help you navigate through those difficult times.
An important part of grieving at any time of the year is listening to your own gut and not to what anybody else says you should do or feel. For instance, during the holidays, you may find yourself feeling both grief and joy. Feeling moments of joy in the midst of grief is simply a human quality, says Carol, but it can make many people feel guilty.
The classic is the first time they’re somewhere and catch themselves laughing and they’re mortified. They’re afraid that someone would notice them and think, oh, my gosh, she doesn’t even care. When moments of joy arrive and they probably will at different points, I encourage people to allow themselves to embrace it and to embrace their grief as that appears, as well.
Carol Schoneberg
Triggers
The holidays may elicit moments of joy but they can also be very triggering, even years later.
If it’s a central person in your life, when that holiday starts or the first smell of it is in the air, or you see or hear the first commercial, or somebody says, oh, my sister’s coming to visit for the holidays, it’s there. The grief starts rising to the surface again.
Carol
If someone says they just want to go to bed from the week before Thanksgiving until January 2nd, that’s understandable, says Carol. So is wanting to make a big deal of it being the first holiday without your loved one and to invite people to share stories.
Unsolicited advice about grief
How you grieve is your business, but there will always be people, seemingly well-meaning people, who will question your actions. Don’t listen to them, says Carol. You know yourself better than anyone else does.
No matter how much people may project and think they know what’s best for you, you need to listen to yourself. Do what brings you comfort and makes you feel better that isn’t hurting anyone else.That to me is how to live with our grief.
Carol
Unfortunately, sometimes people will say things that are hurtful or unkind. “Are you still grieving?” comes to mind or “It’s been six months, aren’t you over it yet?” The best approach when responding to such questions is honesty, says Carol.
When someone says something, and they do all the time — in support groups, people share all the stupid hurtful things people say with good intentions – I would encourage them to say it isn’t helpful when you say that.
Carol
The same approach works for people who think you’re not grieving enough.
If somebody wants to go back to work the next day, if that’s their coping mechanism, that’s fine. They have a right to do it however they do it. If they ask a friend or professional for advice or guidance, that’s one thing, but nobody wants unsolicited advice. Nobody.
Carol
How to be helpful
If you a truly worried about someone who seems to be struggling with their grief, there is a kinder and gentler way to reach out to them without expressing your personal opinions. Try telling them you’re there for them if they need someone.
Say something like if you ever want to talk or share your grief, I’ll just listen and if I can ever help in any way, if you want something and you don’t know how to find someone, I hope you would let me know.
Carol
When we’re grieving, it’s a time when we can feel incredibly judged, as if we were under a microscope. If someone is doing that to you, even if it’s someone you love, Carol says it may be helpful to distance yourself from them for a while.
When we are deeply grieving, we know right away who brings us comfort and who is not going to be able to support us in the way that we need, which is to simply listen and be present.
Carol
Experts on grieving
If you find yourself struggling with your grief, bereavement services at Hospice of Southern Maine are open at no cost to anyone in the community, whether or not your loved one received any of their services. You’ll find information about bereavement services on their website.
Hospice of Southern Maine has also been presenting a series of webinars called Ask the Experts, including one on getting through the holidays. You can register here for upcoming sessions, as well as view videos of previously held webinars and ask HSM’s experts questions at any time through a web form.
An a/dditional resource
You might also find some useful advice in my special series Living with Grief
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