Dealing with a loss during the holidays is never something anyone wants to deal with. It is difficult, it hurts, and your heart feels like it’s been torn in two. Loss is a part of life, but it’s always challenging to fully accept. However, there is hope and healing when you lose someone you love during the holidays, especially after going through treatment.
There is no set number of emotions that can explain the feelings of sadness and pain when it comes to loss. Some individuals feel overwhelmed and stressed, or they find themselves looking at life like it is unbearable. Losing someone you love is difficult, and it requires a specific amount of time to heal. It’s expected that you will go through a time of mourning and grief because you remember so much about the person you lost. You know you care, even during the times you struggle to show it. However, the symptoms of depression can worsen if your emotions are not kept in check.
Remember, it’s not uncommon to feel triggered or want to relapse if you lose someone you love. Many individuals lose the ones they love and want to escape from the pain of dealing with the emotions that come with the loss. If you feel like this or you have recently lost someone, remember you’re not alone. There are ways to navigate loss without relapsing, as there are people and helpful tips to motivate you to continue to move forward, all while giving you the time to heal, grieve, and reclaim your motivation to live.
If you want to navigate losing someone you love without relapsing, you need to give yourself permission time to grieve and remember the happy moments you spent with the one you loved. If you're struggling with a loss and need direction and a helping hand, there are people all around you who love you and want to be there for you.
Many individuals feel conflicted when they lose someone they love. More often than not, individuals experiencing loss after treatment feel conflict in their minds with the ones that they lose. This may be due to estrangement, previously broken relationships, or other past experiences.
Remember that there is no one person to blame, and while you may feel guilty or conflicted with the person you are, remember that no relationship is ever perfect. During times like these, if you open up and share the feelings you have about the person you lost or what you’re holding, the damage in the heart will ease over time. You will have your ups and downs, but the pain will decrease, even though it seems like it never will end.
The person that you lost is someone you will always remember, but focusing on your commitment can balance your future. If you hold in your feelings and you mix up your conflicted emotions, you may cause more damage to yourself. Since you went through treatment, you learned how to express emotions in different ways.
You might have learned the different stages of grief, and recognizing those emotions after losing someone will help you move towards a more peaceful future and acceptance. If you struggle with loss and you don’t know how to talk to anyone about the loss, there are ways you can encourage your friends, family, and self.
If you don’t feel like you can accept that the one you lost is gone, remember to make healthy progress in your day-to-day activities by keeping your hands busy and focusing on healthy habits. The grief will fade over time and eventually allow you to remember the one you lost more healthily. At times, you may feel like you’re in denial and don’t want to rationalize your pain with strategies you were taught. However, when you feel like this, your peers, counselors, and connections you established during treatment are there for you. It’s important to remember not to isolate yourself or create different scenarios where you unintentionally cause one of your triggers.
If you try to keep a journal of your emotions and remember that it’s okay for you to feel angry and sad, the feeling of loss will soon become acceptance. The connections you established at NorthStar Transitions are here for you, and support is always available. We want you to know that there is always hope, and if you struggle with your loss and feel that you may be close to relapse, reach out to us today and let us help you. At NorthStar Transitions, we understand that the death of someone is never easy.
Every loss is under different situations and circumstances, and you are allowed to feel emotions, regardless of whether they are negative or positive. However, the stages of grief require coping mechanisms and guidance if you find it difficult to move through in a positive direction. You don’t need to take on the loss by yourself or hold in all of your emotions. We know that your experience is solely yours. However, you don’t have to fight this battle alone, and you do not need to go back to the previous habits you have overcome We understand the pain of losing someone you love and the conflicted emotions that come with losing a loved one. We are here to help you find peace and acceptance through any journey or unexpected event after treatment. Contact NorthStar Transitions today for guidance and support to learn how to deal with losses during the holidays at (303) 558-6400.
