They are the stories that break my heart year after year during the Holiday season. Watching or reading the news, and seeing that someone has lost a loved one – or several loved ones – to a house fire or car accident. Even seeing a loss of a loved one during the Holiday season due to health issues or natural causes shakes me to my core.

I loss my mother during the Holiday season many years ago. So having gone through it, I know how devastating it can be for the family members who are left behind. What is supposed to be a joyous time is suddenly shifted to a somber one.

One of the hardest things to do is manage the loss of a loved one during the Holiday season. Planning final services is tough: judgement can be tainted when you are still in shock from losing someone unexpectedly at such a time of year. That is why it is best to pull together as many positive coping mechanisms and as much support as you can to help you make it through and get everything taken care of as carefully as possible.

Definitely rally a support system: friends, family, co-workers, and others that are dependable to be there for you in your time of sorrow and need. A solid support circle can give you the shoulder to cry on and the second (or third) opinion when it is most needed.

To manage the loss of a loved one during the Holiday season, you need more than just your inner circle. You need an ‘outside’ circle, too. The outer circle consists of the people who are not close to the situation. Since their viewpoints are not biased, these type of people can give objective opinions. People like the best funeral director Castle Hill or clergy members can support you and give you the ‘different perspective’ and even provide resources that insiders cannot.

Even with an entire village of support in place, there will still be times when you may have to be an army of one. Comforting and encouraging yourself is key in the times when you are alone and no one else is available. Practices like meditation and prayer will help you to draw strength from within.

There are no words to describe how hard getting through the Holidays after the loss of a loved one during the season is. However, the key to survival is making sure that anytime day or night, you have the support you need to get through it.

Manage the Loss of a Loved One During the Holiday