This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Grief Doesn't Take a Holiday

If you or someone you know is experiencing holiday sadness due to a loss, you can attend The Mourning After bereavement group this Friday, December 6th, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

As we move from one major holiday to another, it can appear that the whole world around us is celebrating with family and friends and enjoying all the delights possible. For those who are grieving the death of a loved one, holidays can be particularly painful times. Memories of past gatherings and loving moments with those who are no longer with us can flood our emotions and make what should be happy times, extremely difficult.

There are many strategies to help those who are grieving. If the loss is relatively recent, within the last year, people sometimes don't feel up to attending large family or friend events and need a quieter holiday plan to feel comfortable. Some people find solace in keeping all the traditions just as they were before the person passed, while others find it helpful to create new traditions and perhaps, new locations to celebrate. Sometimes, taking a vacation away can ease the distress.

If you, a friend or a relative are experiencing holiday sadness due to a loss, you can attend The Mourning After bereavement group this Friday, December 6th, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. It is a professionally led group who leaders, Bernice Garfield Szita, MS, LPC, TEP and Bob Szita, MS, LPC, TEP are co-directors of GIERS: Grief Information Education & Recovery Services, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. It meets monthly at Center Playhouse, 35 South Street, Freehold, NJ 07728. There is no charge to the public but a donation is appreciated. For further information about The Mourning After, go to www.GIERS.org or call 732-577-1076.

Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Help yourself or others to feel less alone on the holidays. Come to The Mourning After and share your experience with others who will truly understand how you feel during these "Happy Holidays"!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?