Dealing With The Loss Of A Loved One During The Holidays

The holiday season can typically be stressful on most people. Add to the mix the loss of a loved one and the stress can be greatly magnified.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one during the holidays can be painful and bring additional stress.

And let me point out that death is not the only way to lose someone you love. Dealing with advanced dementia can often be more stressful on family and friends than the physical death of a loved one.

If you are heading into your first holiday season after the loss of someone you love, the most important thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong way to negotiate through the season.

When everyone else is in a celebratory mood, you are not obligated to join in. Join in if it feels right. Continue traditions or choose to opt out as you deal with your loss. It’s most important to be kind to yourself.

In the case of someone close to you developing dementia, you may both be suffering with feelings of loss. Feelings of guilt and anger are perfectly normal.

I speak from experience. My mother has advanced dementia and is literally a shell of her former self. What’s important in cases of dementia is that the feeling you and the loved one have now may develop or change as the disease progresses. You never know how the disease will progress in your loved one. The only thing I can say is to expect change and do your best to adapt.

The holidays are never the same when navigating the loss of a loved one… without the ones we love being with us.

Traditions may or may not fall by the wayside or they may resurface in time. Grief also softens over time. So, please be kind to yourself as you cherish the wonderful memories you shared with your loved one.

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