Honoring Your Grief During the Holidays
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As this Christmas approaches, you might be thinking more and more about your loved ones who are no longer with you.
I’ve been thinking about my mom who passed away earlier this year trying to come up with ways I can keep her memory alive during the holidays.
If you’re trudging through your own grief, you might be feeling this way too. Trying to find special ways to honor your loved one with the grace and thoughtfulness that they deserve.
My goal is to do that without bringing up so much pain that it becomes counterproductive or induces so much stress that you end up in a Crohn’s or colitis flare up.
Join me, dear one, on this very special episode of The Cheeky Podcast for Moms with IBD as we discover 7 ways to honor your loved one this Christmas. And as an added bonus, see below to discover my compilation of 23 holiday survival strategies to help you with your grief (no matter where you’re at on the journey).
Three Things You’ll Learn in This Episode
- The power of planning when it comes to enduring holiday grief
- What Hospice teaches us about the grieving process
- The meaningful way to use your loved one’s Christmas stocking as a tool to honor their memory
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Mentioned in This Episode:
My IBD Mom 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
CONNECT WITH KARYN:
Schedule Your FREE 30-Minute IBD Consult
Episode Resources
How to Cope With Grief During the Holidays
5 Tips to Cope with Grief During the Holidays
Coping With Grief During the Holidays
64 Tips For Coping With Grief During the Holidays
23 Holiday Survival Strategies to
Help With Your Grief
(no matter where you’re at on the journey)
#1 Make friends with boundaries. Do what you feel up to and say “no” to the rest.
#2 Feel all the feels of grief. Keep the door open to whatever comes your way. No judgement.
#3 Plan ahead for moments that might be triggering.
#4 Honor the traditions you used to have with your loved one. They will bring you solace.
#5 Create new traditions that honor your loved one. They will bring you new memories.
#6 Know your coping skill strengths and be prepared to use them. Meditation, deep breathing, long walks, affirmations… figure out what works for you.
#7 Help others. It takes the focus off your grief and brings purpose and gratitude to your life.
#8 Ask for help. It’s OK to ask for help with chores, picking up the kids, or anything else that’s on your plate. Let others in. You don’t have to do it alone.
#9 Think about the needs of your kids. How is this grief impacting them? In what ways would they like to honor your loved one?
#10 Keep plans flexible. You may not feel up to a gathering you already planned but sometimes, you may feel up to an outing you thought you wouldn’t be ready for. Be open to possibilities.
#11 Prioritize self-care. How can you honor yourself? Bubble baths, curling up with a great book, binge watching a new show, an outing, a girl’s night… what feeds your soul?
#12 Get counseling. Seeing a therapist isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength. Find a good fit for you, even if that means checking a few out first.
#13 Talk about your grief with others who are experiencing a loss. Other family members, maybe a support group, good friends. Talk about your grief. Don’t bottle in your emotions.
#14 Surround yourself with people who make you feel safe and comforted.
#15 Set realistic expectations. Wherever you are at in your grief, that is where you are supposed to be. Don’t judge yourself harshly. Be kind.
#16 Don’t cancel the holidays. You deserve the tradition, just like everyone else.
#17 Make an acknowledgement that this year will be different.
#18 If you don’t feel up to sending holiday cards, let it go.
#19 Crying is good for the soul.
#20 Ignore anyone who makes you feel bad about your grief.
#21 Think about what you’re eating. Is it helping or is it hurting?
#22 Keep lists. It’s harder to remember all that needs to get done during the holidays when you’re grieving.
#23 It’s OK to laugh and even enjoy yourself during the holidays.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This podcast, video, and blog post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.