Coping With Grief and Loss During Holidays

Interview with Dan Dixson, MDIV,BCC, Chaplin and Berevement Counselor. I would urge you to feel the feelings fully as they come up, because if you stuff them down, they will not go away. Indeed, they may resurface later when you least expect them. Feelings You May Experience • Fear, anxiety and panic • Anger at the person who died, at medical personnel, at yourself or others • Depression or emotional flatness, with a feeling of "Why bother" or "What's the use of trying." • Confusion and a reduced attention span • Numbness, shock and disbelief • Loneliness and isolation • Hunger for someone to really listen to your story • Pain, both physical and emotional • Guilt and regrets. Lots of "if only..." • Emptiness and a missing part of you • Relief, which in many instances provides conflict in your mind • Replaying the scene over and over in your mind • Tired body but unable to sleep Death may happen in a moment, but feeling the emotions around that loss of a loved one will take time, lots of time. I would urge you to feel the feelings fully as they come up, because if you stuff them down, they will not go away. Indeed, they may resurface later when you least expect them. Feelings You May Experience • Fear, anxiety and panic • Anger at the person who died, at medical personnel, at yourself or others • Depression or emotional flatness, with a feeling of "Why bother" or "What's the use of trying." • Confusion and a reduced attention span • Numbness, shock and disbelief • Loneliness and isolation • Hunger for someone to really listen to your story • Pain, both physical and emotional • Guilt and regrets. Lots of "if only..." • Emptiness and a missing part of you • Relief, which in many instances provides conflict in your mind • Replaying the scene over and over in your mind • Tired body but unable to sleep Death may happen in a moment, but feeling the emotions around that loss of a loved one will take time, lots of time.