We spoke to doctors with Renown on how to cope with losing a loved one near or during the holidays.

The holiday blues relates to those who have lost a loved one right before or during the holidays. 

We asked doctors at Renown Health for ways to cope with loss during the holiday season.

One thing they recommend is honoring the passed loved one instead of pretending that you don't feel sad about the loss or ignoring that your loved one is no longer with you. 

“Honor them by maybe doing a special recipe that they used to love doing with you, or having your family discuss the most interesting memory they have of your loved one," said Dr. Mavis Major, a behavioral health psychotherapist at Renown.

If honoring your passed loved one doesn't work for you, you can also try changing the traditions you currently have in place. 

“Sometimes when we repeat traditions that we used to enjoy with our loved one it makes us feel more sad... but if we change the tradition and do something new and interesting that might bring more energy and positive feelings around the holiday," Dr. Major said.

Here are some alternatives:

  • Instead of having an at-home holiday dinner, you can try going out to dinner with your friends and family
  • Try taking a trip instead of having a traditional holiday

Doctors say some people might even feel guilty about wanting to enjoy a holiday when a loved one has passed, but they encourage those who feel this way to try to enjoy their time.

“I think that we have to consider that often they would want us to continue to live our lives to be happy and to embrace their memory but also continue to live a full life," Dr. Major said.

Doctors also say it's important to manage depression and grief as it comes along.

“We don’t ignore the grief, but maybe do something to help move us through the grief by exercising going for a walk, it’s ok to take flowers to the grave site if that is something you want to do."

If you have tried getting yourself through the holidays, and the little changes you've made haven't been helping, it may be time to seek professional help. 

“This is a good time to seek professional help and to ask for different ways of coping through this grief and loss, so that the holidays are not something that you dread every year, but it’s something you can look forward to," Dr. Major told us.

If you're struggling this holiday season you can always seek a therapist to talk to, or if you're in a crisis, remember the 988 crisis line is available 24 hours a day.