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Health 52
Info Tip:
Grief and the Holidays
The emotional highs and lows of the holiday season can be difficult for
anyone, but they can be particularly overwhelming for a person who has
recently lost a family member or beloved friend.
To beat the holiday blues, start out with adequate sleep and a well-balanced
diet including comfort foods and a daily multivitamin supplement if you’re
not eating well. Exercise and daylight help, even if it’s only a walk to the
mailbox or a stroll around the neighborhood to look at holiday decorations.
If you take prescription medication, make sure you stay on schedule, and
avoid excessive alcohol that people sometimes use to numb the pain.
While mourning the loss of someone you love, so many things in life seem
inconsequential, so make this a meaningful holiday by helping others and by
reflecting on your faith. Writing in a journal or writing letters to friends
in distant locations is often soothing. Make it a point to do something for
yourself every day. It may mean renting a movie you’ve been wanting to see,
allowing yourself the privacy to weep freely, or asking your relatives to
share memories rather than try to cheer you up.
Accept your feelings, and understand the signs of clinical depression so you
can get professional help if you need it over the winter.
Sources: American Geriatrics Society, Harvard Medical School
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