As funeral homes in Freer, TX will tell you, the holidays can be challenging for those who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one. When someone you love dearly passes away, it leaves a void in your life that’s almost impossible to fill. The empty space left behind by their absence causes us to feel grief and loneliness once again. 

The first holiday following their death can be particularly difficult as you grapple with new traditions and find yourself missing old ones. However, with support from friends and family, we can all learn how to survive the holidays after a loved one dies. 

The following tips can help you cope with the holidays after a loved one dies: 

Seek out family and friends 

Be with people who can support you as you work through your grief at this otherwise jolly season of the year. Being more likely to be aware of your loss, your closest relatives and friends will offer allowances needed to help you get through the holiday. Isolating yourself, however, can make your grief more overwhelming. 

Be aware of your triggers 

Certain things might be too much or too soon for you. While you shouldn’t completely isolate yourself through this difficult time, you can pace your exposure to these triggers. 

It might be a location that holds too much history and is too painful to be at without the deceased. It could be a song or a movie. If you can pinpoint these triggers, you have more control over how they affect you. 

Give room for your emotions 

You are more likely than not to be in your feelings at this time. Don’t be afraid to let it out or get support making sense of it. Allow yourself to feel the full range of emotions that you are feeling 

Acknowledge the pain and sorrow that you feel at this time. You might also experience a sense of relief, happiness, or peace as you remember your loved one. All these feelings are normal and natural. In time, the painful emotions will lessen, but they will always be a part of your life. 

Attending a support group where you can talk to others dealing with the same loss may also help clear some things up. 

Don’t forget about the little things 

Keep the spirit of your loved one alive by doing something special in their memory or saying something heart warming about them in your holiday conversation. 

If you can’t attend the festivities, make a phone call, or send a card or email to friends and family. Let the people you love know how much they mean to you and that they are in your thoughts during this sentimental time. 

Take part in activities that will bring joy back into your life, such as going out with friends or taking part in new traditions. 

Plan ahead so you won’t feel rushed or overwhelmed 

It also helps to think about what you feel up to doing during the holidays in advance. Going along with other people’s plans can be fun, but making some of your own can feel more fulfilling, and you can go at your own pace. 

You can plan to do something in memory of your loved one or take the time for yourself to recalibrate. 

Be patient with yourself 

It will take time before you feel whole again. Don’t expect too much from yourself too soon. Give yourself permission to take things slowly and allow your physical and emotional wounds to heal at their own pace. A funeral service, often held at a funeral home, place of worship, or residence, may include prayers, music, eulogy, and readings, among other elements. 

If you are dealing with the loss of a loved one this holiday season, take comfort in knowing that you aren’t alone. Many resources are available to help you through your grief when you work with our Freer, TX, funeral home. Visit or call us today.