Winter Blues, Blahs and Grief

By Lynne Hughes, Founder and CEO, Comfort Zone Camp
 
I can't tell you how many times in the past few weeks I have run into people who are just feeling blue. They just feel low and don’t exactly know why. Is it the post-holiday let down? Is it the Winter Blues? Is it the uncertainty of the economy? Is it grief?
 

 
The answer is—it could be any or all of the above. So many of us do all we can to just pull off the holidays and make it nice for our kids or family. This is especially true in families who have experienced a loss. During the holiday season, we have no idea what our own needs are. We just go on auto-pilot, put our heads down, and do whatever it takes to pull the season off.
 
It is only natural that when the holidays are over, we feel tired and more emotional. We give everything to get through the holidays, and don’t have anything left in the tank. Also, we no longer have “tasks” to distract us from feeling what we really may be feeling about missing our loved ones during the holidays. Throw in the seemingly endless gray, gloomy and cold days of January/February and it becomes even harder to run from those feelings.
 
I think the general population gets the “winter blahs” too. But we need to be extra sensitive to it when we are grieving. We may need to expect the winter blahs annually (like an unwanted houseguest—oh you—you’re back again? How long will you stay this time?)
 
We may need to plan for it and go on a vacation during that time, or a weekend getaway, or find activities we enjoy to keep ourselves busy. Also, let good friends know you may need them to be there for you a little more during the post-holiday winter time. You can also challenge yourself to do something that commemorates your loved one this time annually.
 
Instead of dreading the winter blahs, use this time of year to do some “winter grieving,” similar to spring cleaning, but getting out the grief that has built up over the year. Allow yourself to sit down and let it out.
 
Most of all, don’t be hard on yourself if you are feeling this way. It isn’t fun but it IS normal. Remember to be good to yourself until Spring finds its way to you. Grief is similar to the changing seasons—the bleakness of winter never goes away for good, but the grey days that seem endless truly do have an end. Spring is right around the corner… closer and closer with each fading grey day.