Title: How to Deal With Grief During the Holidays | Psychology Today
Headings: How to Deal With Grief During the Holidays
Amy Morin
How to Deal With Grief During the Holidays
The holidays can be the toughest time of the year.
1. Trust That Grief Is Part of Healing
2. Set Healthy Boundaries
3. Focus on What You Can Control
4. Plan Ahead
5. Allow Yourself to Feel a Range of Emotions
6. Find a Way to Honor Your Memories
7. Create New Traditions
8. Do Something Kind for Others
9. Ask for Help

Content: Christmas music, holiday parties, and festive decorations that were meant to bring joy served as painful reminders of my loss. As it is for most people experiencing loss, the holiday season was the most painful time of all. If you're wondering how to get through the holidays this year without your loved one, these strategies can help: 1. Trust That Grief Is Part of Healing
Time doesn't heal the pain associated with a loss; it's what you do with that time that matters. Grief is the process by which you heal. Experiencing the pain—rather than constantly trying to escape it—can actually help you feel better in the long-term. So while it may be tempting to pretend the holidays don't exist—or to numb the pain with alcohol —temporarily avoiding the pain only prolongs the anguish. Eventually, the holidays will get easier, but only if you allow yourself to experience the grief of going through them without your loved one.