Mental Health - Widower Experience (WX)

Yes, it is cold out there. But as much as we like to moan about the weather, about the icy winds and sunless skies, the winter brings a moment of calmness to the world. It's as if nature itself is telling us to slow down; to take a step back from our fast-paced lives and adopt a more laid-back approach. So, let's wrap up warm and embrace the cold season. It's the perfect time to reflect; to spend quality time with loved ones. And, to appreciate the simple joys in life. And for many of us, as the nights grow longer, so does the time spent with friends and family. We’re more inclined to reach out and make plans, dust off the board games, and rewatch our favorite holiday movies, like 'Home Alone', or 'Gremlins' - or my favorites are 'Die Hard' and 'Little Lord Fauntleroy'. I already share a few thoughts if you are mourning, feeling bad or sad, or alone.  May the coming year be better than this one. Wishing you joy and good cheer throughout the h...

If you're planning or about to spend the holidays alone, here are some suggestions on how to avoid feeling lonely. By the way as one of my main focus of my blog is around grieving - I might have a look at the article I wrote beginning of December " Managing Bereavement during the Holidays " The holiday season is usually full of happiness, love, and people coming together, but this is not the case for everyone. Whether you're alone choice or due to circumstances such as being geographically or emotionally distanced from family and friends, there are ways to cope with being alone during the holidays. Feeling lonely, sad or uninspired is normal, particularly if this situation is new for you or if you're dealing with loss. However, it might be beneficial to find ways to lighten your mood and make the holidays easier to get through. Adjust your expectations Television, movies, and social media often portray a perfect holiday season, which can make you feel like you...

The idea of celebrating Christmas might be quite overwhelming when you're mourning. It's critical to take care of oneself and figure out how to manage during the season.  So the question comes up - How to handle loss during the holidays? Think about various celebration methods. Try organizing your celebration in advance. Christmas celebrations might not even feel necessary to you. Or, you may discover that the best way to honor the deceased and assist your family is to continue at least a few of your regular Christmas customs. It's critical to follow your own judgment and avoid feeling pushed to do anything you don't feel comfortable doing.  Look after yourself and yours who are grieving too. What I like to mention, as I did in other articles before - grief is individual. Accept and recognize that different people may grieve in various ways. People grieve and remember in various ways, as we all know. Families might occasionally find it challenging when members have dive...

The secret of Joy, the upcoming holidays and New Year's Eve is from my point of view ... while all too many people are looking and searching something great and extraordinary ... we miss all to often the inconspicuous, small, little enlightening glitter and stars. Remember with gratitude the positive moments in your life, especially in the recent year. May the stars light up your way into the new year so that you can go your way full of confidence, strength and courage.  Just an idea - what about starting the next year with a daily practice of gratitude? It can help you recognize the positive in your life instead of focusing on the negative. And being thankful and grateful for all the good things you have can actually make you happier. All friends and readers - a merry Christmas and a happy new year. It was a special, difficult, beautiful, challenging year ... and so perhaps the next year will be too - but as well with wonderful sunrises, sunsets, ... and wonderful people - just as...

At latest up from December we all experience that the days are getting darker and shorter, the cold surrounds us, an even more emotional and often much more difficult time begins, especially for those in mourning. The days of the Holiday Season are the days when families show and celebrate their families, rituals, love and emotions. If a loved one is missing, passed away - then this lost leaves a void - that will also have a major impact on familiar rituals and habits during these days. Often, however, there is simply a lack of strength to keep up habits that we have grown fond of. The holidays are often so difficult for the bereaved - because friends and acquaintances and of cause colleagues also have little or no time. So it can quickly get very lonely and not only during the days of Hanukkah or the days of Christmas - but also on all the days after that into the New Year. This challenging time can turn into a roller coaster ride of feelings and yet this time is again a path in t...