It is not wrong for you to feel angry, sad, or overwhelmed by impending holidays. Because you are not able to control these changes, you are bound to have feelings that conflict with what you used to feel during holidays. If others around you are not feeling the same, you may feel further alienated. What used to make you happy and joyous may now make you feel sad and angry.
It is always difficult to live through holidays in the aftermath of intense tragedy. For victims and survivors, holidays are often marked with pain and anguished memories. What, in the past, may have been a time for family gatherings and celebration will be a time for missing loved ones and a sense of loss.
Plan aheadHave a backup planEmbrace the feelings - both good and badRealize it doesn't have to be the best holiday ever - just get through it!Find something different to doGo to a buffet instead of fixing the big mealLeave townTake the pressure off of yourself - don't fake itHave reasonable expectations of yourself and othersAdd something to your tradition that honors your loved one - light a candle create whatever holiday you want feel comfortable in doing.
Surviving That First Holiday Season After a LossFor people who have lost a loved one, through death, divorce, or even relocation, big holidays throughout the following year often prove painful and difficult. Rituals that brought joy in years past serve instead as stark reminders of missing loved ones."Holidays can reawaken the grieving process," says Marianne Wamboldt, MD, Director of the Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders at National Jewish Medical and Research Center. "It can be extremely painful. But there are ways to cope, things you can do to get through the holidays and even to find comfort.
"Coping with Holiday GriefAt holiday time, many people are dealing with loss and are often caught in a dilemma between the need to grieve and the pressure to get into the spirit of the season. Holidays or not, it is important for the bereaved to find ways to take care of themselves. The following guidelines may be helpful:Suggestions for filling your holiday loss and tears with celebratio...Express yourself through artwork.Begin your holiday dinner with a minute of silent prayer and a toast in their honorSend up a balloon(s) with messages and prayers to your loved one.During the meal ask the question, "What comes to your mind when you think of (this person)_________?", and share memories with those who surround you. Plant a tree or a special plant in their honor in your garden or in your home.Create special Christmas ornaments for your tree and hang a stocking in their honor.Write a letter or even keep a journal of your thoughts.Light a candle(s) in their memory.Place a single flower or bouquet of flowers that your loved one cherished as the centerpiece.The "Shames" or head candle in the Hanukah celebration can be in honor of your loved oneLook at pictures (or display pictures) from past holidays shared with your loved one. View videos, audiotapes and any remembrances, which reflect on the wonderful times you experienced together.
Design a quilt with the memories you haveWrite a brief history of the ups and downs you have experienced in the past year and place it into a Christmas stocking or some memorable cache that you can add to yearly.Play a favorite songCreate a sacred alter with photos and treasures where you can sit and reflect.If you vacation in a special area that you used to go to with your loved one, do something special in honor of them.Consider volunteering for an organization affiliated with your loved one;s illness, hospice or a caregiving program to help others through your own experiences.Vounteer to help feed the homeless over Thanksgiving & Christmas.Volunteer to read or spend time with the elderly in nursing homes, hospitals or to read and spend time with children who have terminal illnesses in hospitals.Donate gifts in your loved one's name. This is even more special when you donate in memory at their birthday, a special anniversary, etc.Offer a scholarship in a loved one's name.
The principle that we should keep in mind is: they may not be here any more, but they are still here.For those with loved ones still missing, not knowing can be the wor...OF ALL the agonies that an outrage creates, the worst is not knowing. It is almost beyond that of loss and grows in the silence of an unanswered telephone.Our hope is that this information is helpful to you as you approach...
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This is an importantMissing Persons Awareness and Support Networkhttp://peace4missing.ning.com/
Thank you for the words and suggestions.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays and May The Lord Keep You safe.