The holidays can be a magical time to have fun and spend time with family and friends, but the same things that can make the season merry for some, can also bring up strong feelings of grief for those who have lost a loved one.
“On its own, grieving is hard work. It can be exhausting,” said Barbara Schjoneman, bereavement coordinator at Compassus Hospice. “Then you add the holidays with all the hustle and the bustle. Everywhere you look it’s holiday preparation and it just adds exhaustion to the process of grieving.”
She said that the stress of the holidays doesn’t just add to the grief of people experiencing a newer loss. It can also renew those feelings for people have lost a loved one years ago.
Her best advice? Talk about it.
“Talking is healing. The more a person can talk to someone, someone supportive, the more healing the process can become,” said Schjoneman.
To that end, Compassus is once again offering a holiday grief support program.
It’s free and being held virtually on December 1st from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
You do need to register ahead of time. Call (715) 301-7218 or email barbara.schjoneman@compassus.com to register.
The event is open to anyone experiencing loss.
