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Coping with loss at Christmas
11/19/08
BY MARK WEBER
Red Deer Express
Christmas certainly isn’t ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ for everyone.
If you’ve experienced any type of loss in recent months, from death and divorce to health problems to a lay-off, you may not feel much like getting caught up in the season this year.
Red Deer Hospice is presenting Loss Lectures – Practical Strategies and Alternatives for Coping with Grief in the Holiday Season on Dec. 1 at CrossRoads Church.
The event gets underway at 6:30 p.m. and no pre-registration is required.
“It’s not always a happy, easy time,” explains Cathy McAllister, who will be co-presenting at the session along with Valerie Larratt.
The women will be discussing practical strategies and alternatives to traditions. “For some people, traditions can be very comforting but for others they feel too raw,” she said.
As McAllister points out, the Christmas season is normally a very busy time with dinners, parties and concerts to attend.
If a loss has been experienced, it can take a toll on one’s emotional defences which are already down.
“But social expectations are increased.”
If people choose to do Christmas a bit differently because of a recent loss in their lives, they can opt for a number of options.
First, they can simplify their routine. For example, instead of cooking a huge meal and inviting several folks over, join a smaller circle of friends and family and enjoy a simple dessert.
Attending a different church for Christmas services can also help, as can marking Christmas celebrations on a different day.
“You can still participate in things, but it may have to be in a limited way.”
McAllister said death isn’t the only type of loss that can affect how a person chooses to spend the holidays.
“It’s a time of year that becomes very difficult because everything out there is focused on happy family fun. For many people, that’s just not the reality.”
For more information, call 403-309-4344.
Meanwhile, Sunnybrook United Church is also hosting Blue Christmas Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Folks can take part in a service that helps them honour memories of lost relatives during the season.
mweber@reddeer.greatwest.ca 309-5459
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