‘Tis the season: carols, soft piano jazz, hot cocoa and rom-coms—all a painful reminder that you miss your loved one. Our desire to celebrate with the ones we love is only dimmed by thinking of those we have lost, making us feel increasingly alone. Oh, seasonal grief! How to deal with thee?
You may have heard that you are not alone before, but you know what they say, repetition is the mother of wisdom. At South Plains Rural Health, we are committed to our actions speaking louder than words and provide the support you need to cope with your seasonal grief and achieve an overall state of well-being during the holidays.
In line with that, our team has put together a list of strategies that can help you better cope if you are dealing with feelings of grief or loss during this holiday season.
If you would like to talk to somebody, please contact our team at any of our locations: Levelland, Lamesa, and Big Spring, Texas
5 Strategies to Deal with Seasonal Grief
- Give Yourself Space
- Share How You Feel
- Invite others to Connect with You
- Create New Routines
- Work with an Expert
1. Give Yourself Space
Hard as it is, we cannot separate the holidays with the sensation that we are constantly behind on our to-dos: presents, decorations, food, invites, logistics, and more pile up. As you try to keep up, you might bottle up any negative feeling that may arise—our advice: try not to. Acknowledging your feelings during such an emotional time is a good way to process. Take a moment to be present and let them out.
As you recognize your emotion and process it, your body will thank you. By giving yourself the time and space to feel, you are allowing your body to take a break, some rest, and tell you what you need.
Another way to nurture your body is to not succumb to binge eating sugary snacks, and prepare healthy treats instead. Our digestive system is closely linked to our emotions, so give it good food for a better mood.
🎄 Important: Remember that grief takes time. You needn’t rush into feeling better, take your time and do what feels right.
➡ You might find this interesting: My Loved One Is Having Severe Mood Swings
2. Share How You Feel
You are not doing yourself any favors by bottling your feelings up. Sure, you are not looking to burden anybody with your problems, however, you will most likely find that your loved ones are happy to lend you an ear. The same goes for mental health providers; there is nothing wrong in approaching a professional to seek help when in need to vent.
You might encounter that in their desire to help, those around will give you unsolicited advice. A good way to cope with that situation is to frame these attitudes, which can feel invasive, within the other person’s desire to help, and therefore to thank them for their concern. Helping those in need comes naturally to most, so you will do both yourself and those with whom you communicate a favor by clearly stating what you need—being heard free of judgment.
3. Invite Others to Connect with You
When seasonal grief gives way to loneliness, spending time with others can become a daunting idea. However, social connections offer extraordinary healing power.
If you are not home or are estranged from your friends or family, there are other ways to find support. Our team recommends:
- Connecting with a support group
- Talking to a therapist
- Getting active in your community—volunteer or get involved in the organization of activities.
By inviting others to connect with you over the holidays, you will help yourself during your seasonal grief journey because:
- Being surrounded by others creates a safe space to share memories, emotions, or stories—it gives you emotional support.
- Engaging with loved ones or like-minded people can restore a sense of inclusion and remind you that you are not alone—it fosters a sense of belonging.
- Supportive networks often step in to help with cooking, decorating, or holiday planning, which alleviates stress.
- Positive social interactions trigger the release of oxytocin and reduce cortisol levels, which can help mitigate the physical and emotional toll of grief.
➡ You might find this interesting: Hormones or Mental Health Issues: What’s Causing My Mood Swings?
4. Create New Routines
The holiday season is all about the rituals, which is why it is particularly difficult. Finding yourself putting up the Christmas Tree without your loved one can feel incredibly painful, but you can reframe the moment by:
- Playing your loved one’s favorite music
- Making their favorite food
- Telling a story about them
- Displaying their photo in prominent locations.
🎄You may even create new traditions to honor them, like lighting a candle or offering a tribute.
5. Work with an Expert to Cope with Seasonal Grief
Whenever you feel overcome with grief during the holiday season, our team at South Plains rural Health is here to support you. Our experts know how hard it can be to go through a time like this on your own, and that you might even feel tempted to use substances that will only make your pain cut more deeply.
We understand that grief has no timeline, whether your loss is recent or past, our providers can help you find the tools to manage the days ahead.
If you would like some help to manage grief during the holiday season, our caring team provides affordable, high-quality healthcare for the whole family. Call any of our Texas locations or book an appointment online, we will be delighted to assist you.
South Plains Rural Health: Caring for your family, growing with your community.