Grief and the Holidays
In these videos, I share my personal and professional experiences related to the various emotions and reactions that can come up in our grief experience, specifically during special dates, anniversaries, seasons, and holidays.
Mother's Day without our mothers
In this video, my aunt Sara, shares her story of the loss of her mother and how that has impacted celebrating holidays, like Mother’s Day.
Grief and the holidays in 2020
Holidays are a time in which we typically spend with our loved ones. Regardless of whether you have experienced the loss of a loved one or not, we can agree, that we’ve all experienced a shift in our lives and a loss of norm during the holidays in 2020.
Grieving the holidays during a pandemic
While the holidays have looked and felt differently since the COVID-19 Pandemic, there are still steps that we can take in order to help ourselves through the difficulties; not just during the holidays but throughout our lives.
Why does our grief feel heavier during the holidays?
Holidays in nature promote an overall sentiment of togetherness and joy. When our loved ones pass away, this image can serve as a reminder of what we no longer have, which can also intensify our emotions of sadness, guilt, anger, resentment, and other grief-related emotions.
The anniversary effect
Grief is also a physical experience. Even on the days when our mind tries to forget or not think about the loss, our bodies have a way of reminding us. This can happen around certain significant dates, holidays, or seasons.