How Do We Cope With Grief And Loss During The Season Of Joy?

December 2 - 8 2025 marks National Grief Awareness Week, which encourages honest, normalised conversations about grief and loss. The aim is not to erase the pain of grief, but to help people move forward with compassion for themselves and their core values in life. 

Grieving during December can be particularly tough, as the noise of the festive season gets louder and more difficult to switch off from. Someone who’s lost a loved one may feel especially stressed, despairing or alone amid the festive cheer and bonhomie.

Here’s a look at how grief affects us all in different ways, and some simple steps to help yourself or someone you love cope with loss during the traditional season of joy and connection. 

Grief doesn’t pause for the holidays

Grief is a process, and there is no “correct” way to grieve. Some people feel intense waves of sorrow, others feel numb, and there can be hours or days where the grief seems manageable, only for it to strike again unexpectedly. 

It can be especially jarring and draining when the world seems to carry on celebrating, while internally everything feels raw and fractured. That contrast can amplify emotions: sadness, anger, guilt, longing, relief, often all at once. 

This isn’t unusual. What matters is giving yourself space to feel.

What to do when December feels overwhelming

Here are some manageable suggestions to help navigate this difficult season:

Acknowledge your feelings and give yourself permission to feel them

Whether you feel sorrow, numbness, anger, relief, or longing, it’s all valid. You don’t need to “fix” your emotions or pretend you’re okay just because others expect cheer. Give yourself permission to feel. 

Set realistic expectations

Maybe this year you don’t want to hang all the decorations, or attend every holiday dinner. Maybe some traditions feel too painful. That’s fine. You can adjust, scale down, or create new rituals that feel more manageable. 

Create gentle rituals of remembrance

Instead of avoiding memories, find small meaningful ways to remember the person you lost. Light a candle, play their favourite music, set aside a moment of silence, or write a letter to them. 

These gestures honour their memory and create a bridge between grief and love, and serve as a reminder that grief is born of connection. 

Lean on support: don’t try to carry it all alone

Sometimes talking about loss, memory, or what you’re going through can bring relief. Talking to friends, family, professional support or bereavement counselling can help, especially if you feel stuck or overwhelmed. 

Prioritise self-care: body, mind and spirit

Grief takes energy; emotional but also physical. Sleep, nutrition, movement, fresh air, and even small comforting routines can help buffer some of that stress. Simple things like a short walk, journaling, or daily stretching exercises can make a difference. 

Protect yourself from overstimulating holiday pressure

Constant festive images, from adverts and social-media posts to Christmas films, can trigger painful comparisons. If that happens, consider taking breaks from social media or TV. 

Scale back on exposure that feels overwhelming. Your emotional well-being matters more than joining in any “holiday spirit” expectation. 

How to help someone with grief

If you’re supporting someone grieving, there are thoughtful ways to help:

• Listen without pressure. Sometimes the best help is giving someone space to talk about the person they lost, or just to stay quiet, and let them be alone with their grief.

• Offer concrete support: a walk, a meal, a quiet coffee. Small gestures can feel grounding, and it takes the onus off them to ask for help.

• Validate what they feel. Avoid platitudes like “they’re in a better place” or “time heals all wounds.” Instead, say things like, “I can’t know how you feel, but I’m here.”

• Understand they may avoid festive events this year, but don’t pressure them into “cheering up.” Respect and flexibility count.

  
  

When grief becomes overwhelming 

If grief starts to impact day-to-day functioning, such as sleep, appetite, mood, relationships, ability to work, it may be time to seek support from a professional counselling service.

Grief can be complicated, especially if you have mixed feelings about the person you’ve lost, whether through bereavement or the end of a relationship. 

Our Harley Street therapist service offers a safe, non-judgemental space to process difficult emotions, build coping tools, and gradually learn to live with loss.