Two Ways To Grieve Through The Holidays
tommaso79 Shutterstock
The fall holiday schedule is in full swing. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, right? Well, that’s not always the case. Sometimes it’s the most triggering time of the year. Most of us have never learned how to discern anxiety or overcome grief. This can leave us isolated and dreading this time of year.
Have you lost a loved one? Are you recently divorced? Are you empty-nesting and feeling the anxiety of an empty house? Life transitions come for us all. Without help, we can find ourselves stuck. The holiday season stirs various kinds of emotions. But no matter what cloudiness looms above your head, with the right plan of processing, you can make it. We want you to know that you’re not alone in facing these feelings. And we want to share a few processes to help you pull through.
One way to grieve through the holidays is exposure. What we mean by this is to feel what you’re feeling. Notice what’s rising within you and then name it. Is it anger or sadness? Could it be fear or frustration? The one thing you don’t want to do is suppress what’s happening on the inside. Here at SEVN Therapy Co., we help our clients to unpack what’s stuffed within. Hiding emotions is a coping mechanism that allows you to evade anxiety temporarily. But you won’t heal what remains concealed. At some point, you must notice and then name what’s going on inside your head and heart.
The second way to grieve through the holidays is through connection. Once you’ve named the emotions within, you need to connect with someone safe to share what you see. Exposure leads to closure when you’re connected to others. For instance, say you’ve lost a loved one and are feeling grief. Try sharing a special picture of your loved one with a friend and the story behind it. Celebrate the good while discussing how you feel can help to process the hurt within.
At SEVN Therapy Co., we’d love to be a safe place for you to share what you’re sensing this holiday season. Click here to schedule an appointment to connect with our professional therapist.
