Question
What are some factors that influence grief during the holidays?
Answer
Some factors that influence grief during the holidays are the fact that it is the first holiday since the loss. If you are working with an individual who is celebrating an event or going through the winter holiday season, and it is their first year after the loss, we typically see intensified reactions at that time. We also would see a higher intensity if that person has experienced multiple losses in recent months or years.
This does not have to be multiple death losses, this can be various types of losses, such as a death loss, a job loss, and/or a home loss. All of those changes build up causing a stronger, more intensified effect on that person's reaction.
We also know that it can be more difficult if that person lacks a good support system, and is not involved with a grief support group or counseling.
These factors are not inclusive of all the factors that we need to look at when we are assessing our clients who have experienced a type of loss, especially when considering grief during the holidays.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, Coping with Grief During the Holidays, presented by Tami J. Micsky, DSW, MSSA, LSW, CT.
