Coping with New Year - When Someone Has Died
Author: Yvonne Tulloch
Overview: New Year can intensify grief, marking time moving on without someone who has died. Acknowledging feelings, avoiding pressure and seeking support may help.
Coping with New Year when someone has died
After the challenge of Christmas after someone has died, many can be surprised by how hard the New Year can feel. One year finishing, with another one starting, and the celebration parties, are not always a straightforward prospect:
We usually remember the date that someone special died and the year will forever be associated with them. If the death has been this year, we may want to hang on to the year.
When asked when the person died, we can simply say in January, June, or October, meaning this year, and they and the date feel close. But from 1st January, we have to say last year, which hints at leaving them behind.
A New Year can feel big and daunting, with challenges and difficulties to face.
People around us are partying, and celebrating the future, which for us can feel hopeless and bleak.
What can we do? Here are some brief thoughts which might help:
Acknowledge your feelings and tell others. Sharing how we feel can surprisingly ease our sadness, as well as enable others to support.
Don’t be pressured into partying. Focus on doing whatever feels right for you. Taking time to reflect and remember could prove to be special alongside the pain.
Think of ways of marking the person as the clock strikes midnight, to ‘bring them with you’ into the new year.
Realise that 1st January is just a change of date. You coped today so you can cope tomorrow.
Make a New Year’s resolution to find support and help with your grief, so that 2026 really does turn out better. Your loved one would want you to.
Find support services here or a The Bereavement Journey® group starting January
All in all, remember that you’re worth every bit of investment in you….
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