Cliniapy Helping House’s Post

Grief can manifest in many different ways personally and professionally. Grief is not only about losing a loved one, we can grieve the loss of a job, a relationship, health, financial security and more. Here is a helpful article on how to navigate grief during Thanksgiving. Quick Summary of Suggestions: 1. Acknowledge your feelings 2. Practice Self-Compassion 3. Set Boundaries 4. Create new rituals and traditions 5. Reach out for support (friends, family and professional support) Wishing you all a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving!

With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s important to acknowledge your grief and offer support to those who are grieving. While the holidays are often associated with joy and togetherness, they can also stir feelings of sadness, longing, and reflection for those mourning the loss of a loved one. If you’re navigating grief this season, here are some gentle reminders: ▪️ Embrace your emotions: Grief is deeply personal and multifaceted. It’s okay to feel sadness, anger, nostalgia, or even fleeting moments of joy. ▪️ Set boundaries: You don’t need to meet every obligation or attend every event. Prioritize your well-being and take a step back when necessary. ▪️ Honor their memory: Celebrate your loved one in ways that feel meaningful, such as lighting a candle, sharing memories, or continuing a cherished tradition. ▪️ Seek support: Lean on friends, family, or a support group to remind yourself that you’re not alone in this journey. ▪️ Be gentle with yourself: Healing takes time, and the holidays may feel different this year. Focus on what brings you comfort and peace. For those supporting someone in grief, your compassion and presence can be a profound gift. Sometimes, simply listening and offering understanding is the most meaningful way to help. The holiday season can be a mix of emotions, but there’s space for both grief and moments of comfort. Show kindness to yourself and others during this time.

This National Grief Awareness Week, we’re reflecting on how the holiday season can be a joyful time for some—but a profoundly painful time for others. For our family, the holidays have never been quite the same since we lost Kristian eight years ago. While we cherish the memories of his laughter and the love he brought into our lives, this season is also a reminder of his absence. Grief doesn’t follow a timeline—it evolves, but moments like the holidays often bring it back to the surface. We know many others feel this way too. The holiday season can be especially challenging for those who are grieving, whether it’s the first holiday without a loved one or the 20th. It’s a time of both joy and sorrow, celebration and longing. As we approach the holidays, we encourage everyone to: 💛 Reach out to those who may be grieving. A thoughtful message or simple act of kindness can mean the world. 💛 Hold space for your own feelings. Whether you feel joy, sadness, or a mix of both, it’s okay. 💛 Honour loved ones in meaningful ways. Share their stories, light a candle, or carry on a tradition that keeps their memory alive. At the Kristian Domingo Foundation, we’re here to support families walking this path and to honour Kristian’s legacy by fostering compassion and community. Let’s use this season to not only celebrate, but also to extend kindness and understanding to those who may be struggling. #NationalGriefAwarenessWeek #KristianDomingoFoundation #11Forever #HopeForTheHolidays #strengthinhope

Holiday grief is both/and, not either/or. The empty chair sits beside a full heart. In my latest blog post, I explore how the fourth holiday season without my husband reminds me that joy and grief aren't opposites - they're companions born from the same deep love. Plus practical tips for supporting grieving loved ones during the holidays. #grief #holidays #widowhood https://lnkd.in/g5HN3EtN

💔 The holidays have a way of amplifying absence. For many of us, the holiday season is a time of joy, family traditions, and togetherness. But when you’ve lost someone you love, even years ago, the season can feel heavier. I still remember my first Christmas without my grandmother. She was the glue that held our family together—the one who made every gathering feel warm and full of life. That year, everything felt different. The laughter wasn’t the same, the traditions felt incomplete, and her absence was impossible to ignore. Grief doesn’t have an expiration date. Even if the loss wasn’t recent, the holidays have a way of bringing it back to the surface. Familiar songs, sights, or traditions can serve as bittersweet reminders of what once was, and what can never be the same again. If you’re feeling this way, know that it’s okay to not feel “cheerful” all the time. It’s okay to miss someone deeply and still try to find moments of joy. The two can coexist. This year, I wrote about how we can navigate these feelings during the holidays—not by ignoring them, but by honoring our loved ones and finding new ways to celebrate. 📖 If you’d like to read it, here’s the link: https://lnkd.in/gwCFm_qc. To those of you missing someone this season: you’re not alone. Let’s be gentle with ourselves and each other, allowing space for both grief and joy to exist. 💬 Have you found meaningful ways to honor your loved ones during the holidays? I’d love to hear how you’ve navigated these moments. #Grief #HolidaysAfterLoss #MentalHealthAwareness #EmpathyMatters #HealingTogether

Whether this is your 1st, 2nd, 6th or even 10th holiday without your loved one, there are ways you can manage your grief while still celebrating the season. Here are 5 tips: bit.ly/3MAMoIz

Struggling with grief and loss during this Festive Season? It’s important to find ways to manage and find a moment of peace. Christmas is such a wonderful time of year filled with joy and celebration, but it can feel heavy when you're grieving. Memories of loved ones or life changes may intensify that feeling of loss, making it harder to fully enjoy the festivities. Grief is personal, and there’s no right way to navigate it, but embrace your emotions. Allow yourself to feel; sadness, anger, or longing, it’s ok to feel it. These emotions are valid, and acknowledging them is part of your healing process. Seek support from people who care; trusted friends, family, or support groups. Sometimes, simply being heard can be incredibly comforting. Try creating new traditions to honor your loved ones or adapt old ones to fit your current reality. Journaling, writing a letter, or sharing stories can help you keep their memory alive while finding moments of personal solace. Remember, it’s okay to protect your peace. Say no to activities that feel overwhelming and create space for rest and reflection. Grief and joy CAN coexist. By embracing both, you may find small pockets of peace to help you through this season. You are not alone 💚

Christmas can be a bittersweet time for those coping with grief. Memories of loved ones can feel sharper and the festive cheer around us may seem overwhelming. At Mosaic, we’re here to support you and your family as you navigate this season. Here are a few ways to make this time of year gentler: 💜 Acknowledge Your Feelings: it’s okay to feel sadness, anger, or joy – grief is unique to everyone, and all your emotions are valid. 💜 Communicate Your Needs: let loved ones know how you’re feeling and set boundaries that protect your well-being. 💜 Honour your loved one: light a candle, create a memory decoration or share stories to keep their presence close. 💜 Adapt traditions: find new ways to celebrate or simplify old ones to make them more manageable. 💜 Support children: encourage them to express their feelings, share memories and include them in creating new traditions. 💜 Prioritise comfort: whether through quiet reflection, family connection or a self-care moment, focus on what brings you peace. 💜 Find Connection: we’re hosting a Christmas Party for Mosaic families on Saturday 14th December, 1.30–3.30 PM at Poundbury Community Church with festive activities, a caring community and a visit from Father Christmas! Grief is a journey, but you don’t have to face it alone. Read our latest blog for more tips on navigating the Christmas period. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eYxjdRig #GriefAwarenessWeek #GriefSupport

During the holidays, it can feel uncomfortable to talk about loss and grief amidst the season’s joy, but it’s important to create space for those who are grieving and include them with compassion and understanding. Here are a few ways to support someone who is grieving this holiday season. 1. Acknowledge Their Loss Let them know you are thinking of them and their loved one. A simple acknowledgment, like saying, “I know this time of year might be hard for you,” can mean a lot and shows you care. 2. Listen Without Judgment Allow them to share their feelings, whether it’s sadness, anger, or even joy. Avoid trying to fix their grief or offering clichés like “They’d want you to be happy.” Instead, just be present and listen. 3. Offer Practical Support Grief can make holiday tasks overwhelming. Offer specific help, like running errands, baking, decorating, or accompanying them to events if they want. Asking, “What can I do to make this easier for you?” can open the door to meaningful support. 4. Be Flexible and Patient Understand that they may cancel plans or need to step away from celebrations. Let them know it’s okay to take things one step at a time and that you’re there for them no matter what. 5. Help Them Honor Their Loved One Encourage or join them in meaningful activities to remember the person they’ve lost, such as lighting a candle, sharing memories, or creating a holiday tradition in their honor. Above all, let them set the tone for how much or how little they want to engage during the holidays. Respect their boundaries and remind them they don’t have to go through this season alone. #grief #support #hospice #alignedhospice #sandiego

Navigating grief on a daily basis is already a tough experience. As you approach this holiday season, know that it is normal not to want to participate in the things that you usually would in the past. Grief and loss change us and our relationship with the world. It takes time to adjust to a life without our person, pet, and/or community, so give yourself permission to approach this time of year at your own pace. If you’re dreading the holidays due to the grief you’re experiencing, I’d encourage you to reflect on the following: What traditions or activities feel too overwhelming to participate in this year? Who helps me feel like I don’t have to put on a mask and pretend I’m happy? How can I spend time with that person or those people this year? How do I want to honor and spend time with my person or pet’s spirit this holiday season? Visit buff.ly/3wnm8NC to learn more