Coping With the Loss of a Loved One During the Holidays
Expert offers suggestions to help you deal with the grief
The holiday season can be
especially difficult for people grieving the death of a loved one.

"Traditionally, it is a time of family, friends and laughter. But
for people who are in the grieving process, the holidays can enhance
feelings of personal grief and separate us from what used to make us
happy," Cynthia Bozich-Keith, a clinical assistant professor at
Purdue University School of Nursing, said in a prepared statement.
She offered the following suggestions to help grieving people cope
with the holidays:

Be gentle with yourself by taking time out to care for yourself by
slowing down your pace or pampering yourself.
Eat a nutritious diet, exercise, avoid alcohol and get adequate
sleep.

Discuss your feelings with people close to you. Talk about the
person who died. Sharing memories may help you with the healing
process.

Set limits and be realistic about what you can do in terms of
holiday preparation and activities.

Don't feel guilty if you do enjoy yourself during the holidays.
It's not disrespectful to the memory of your loved one if you have
a good time.

Celebrate life.

"Try to ride the wave of emotions and accept that feelings of
sadness and pain are unavoidable and are heightened during certain
times. The intense feelings will pass, but grief is an ongoing
process. Don't ever expect closure. It gets easier with time, but
there will always be an empty space at the table," Bozich-Keith
said.