Coping with grief during the holidays
If you are grieving the loss of a loved one during the holidays, Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice wants you to know you are not alone.
The hospice is offering its yearly program, Hope for the Holidays. Participants can choose from two sessions at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21 or Thursday, Dec. 8 at Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice.
Registration ended Nov. 14 for the Nov. 21 session, but attendees can still register for the Dec. 8 session by Dec. 1. The sessions run for two hours.
#147;We run this for people who have lost a loved one,#148; said Carol Ann Richeson, who works in Adult Bereavement Services at Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice. #147;It#146;s difficult not feeling joy around the holidays and the program helps them understand that it is OK to feel this way.#148;
In this program, two trained facilitators will help participants gain coping skills for dealing with the powerful emotions triggered by the holiday season and will share ideas for getting through some of the more difficult times.
Suggestions will be offered for integrating memories of the loved one into the holidays, and techniques such as creating a Life Review will be discussed.
#147;Some common grieving issues are if a loved one used to cook the holiday dinner or decorated the Christmas tree,#148; said Richeson. #147;These are the times when memories mostly come back.#148;
The evening will close with celebrating the loved one#146;s life by discussing ways to keep memories close, a memorial poem and a short candlelight remembrance service. Refreshments will be provided.
#147;This is a way for attendees to know that they are not alone,#148; said Richeson. #147;Some choose to blow out their candle and some don#146;t, it#146;s an emotional time.#148;
Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice is a community-based, nonprofit organization that serve those with life-threatening illnesses and those who have lost loved ones. In addition to one-on-one support, the agency also offers medical equipment loans, a community lending library adult and specific grief support groups such as spouse, children and suicide.
#147;We really focus on helping participants cope with the anxiety and to give suggestions on how to talk to family members about their loved ones,#148; said Richeson. #147;This can be a major stress reduction.#148;
For information or to register, contact Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice at (630) 232-2233 or info@fvvh.org.
Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice is at 200 Whitfield Drive, Geneva. All services are free and Spanish interpretation is available.