Coping With Caregiver Grief During The Holidays

Updated on: December 20th, 2022 • Resource: Caregiver, Mental Health

Celebrated as the most wonderful time of the year, the holidays are expected to usher in joy and happiness. But for caregivers, the holidays can often bring a complicated mix of emotions, including grief. During the holidays, grief can arise from memories of loss or seeing others celebrating with loved ones. To assist caregivers in coping with this loss or cope with grief, below are five tips to consider:

Set realistic expectations for yourself:

It is critical that, as a caregiver, you remind yourself that this season should be fun. Give yourself permission to change things up to avoid burnout. Decide if you can handle tasks ahead, find new ways to deal with past events, or decide if you want to retire events of the past.

Accept love and support in your life:

Share your plans with family and friends and introduce them to your new routines and approaches. Sharing these memories can also provide additional comfort if they bring feelings of grief or loss.

Create new memories:

New memories can help heal the pain of loss and turn into cherished memories in time. Therefore, honoring traditions in new ways can offer a great method to cope with the grief associated with past practices. So, light a candle in honor of your loved one or introduce a moment of silence. Whatever new tradition you adopt, start making new holiday memories this year to last a lifetime.

Remain in the present:

Sometimes sadness and grief can seem so loud it can be hard to hear the present moment. With sadness at the forefront of your emotions, it can help to remain focused on what is essential in your life while celebrating good times when they happen, even in the face of grief.

Allow yourself to feel joy, anger, and sadness:

Please remember that everyone has their unique way of handling grief. So, allowing yourself to experience happiness during this time is exceptionally healthy to overcome your grief as a caregiver during the joyful holiday season.

Since there are no set norms to celebrate the holidays and deal with grief or loss during this festive season as a caregiver, finding a coping mechanism for the season that works for you and your situation is critical to protecting your mental health.

Mass Care Link can help caregivers access the financial assistance they need. We also help caregivers with resources and training to help you get through the holidays, and every day. Call Mass Care Link today to learn more 866-880-8889.