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How to Cope with Grief During the Holidays

Grief can feel heavy at any time of year, but the holiday season can make those feelings even more intense.

A season filled with gatherings, traditions and reminders of togetherness can highlight the absence of someone deeply missed. It is estimated that more than one-third of Americans struggle to feel like celebrating during the holidays because of grief or loss. 

For some, these emotions may be compounded by the realities of aging, living in a continuing care community, being away from family or navigating changes in health.

If you’re coping with grief this holiday season, you’re not alone. These simple practices can help you find peace and connection during a difficult time.

Emotional Coping Practices

Follow the Three Cs

To help you cope with grief during the holidays, remember the Three Cs: Choose, Connect and Communicate. These three words can serve as simple guideposts when grief feels unpredictable. These practices can help you care for yourself, build support and acknowledge your emotions at your own pace.

Choose

Grief can make even simple decisions feel overwhelming. Choosing means recognizing what you need and doing what supports your well-being in the moment. It is okay to choose what is manageable for you. Your needs can change daily, so give yourself compassion and room to adjust.

Tips

• Continue routines or hobbies that bring comfort or stability.
• Say yes to activities that feel meaningful or supportive.
• Say no to events or gatherings that feel overwhelming right now.

Connect

Grief can create feelings of loneliness or disconnection, especially during a season focused on togetherness. Whether it’s through a support group, fellowship or a quiet walk with a friend, connection helps remind you that you are not alone and that others want to support you through this time.

Communicate

Whether through conversation, prayer or journaling, communicating about your loss helps you cope with grief in a healthy way. Your emotions are valid, and expressing them is a sign of strength, not a burden.

Tips

• Talk about your loved one when memories arise.
• Let someone know when you are having a difficult day.
• Reach out to a counselor, pastor or mental health professional.

Allow Your Grief to Move at Its Own Pace

There’s no right or wrong amount of time to grieve. Grief is not linear; it ebbs and flows. Some days will feel lighter; others may feel heavy again. Every person’s experience is different, and certain memories, places or moments may bring feelings of loss even years later. This does not mean you are “going backwards” or not healing. It simply means that your love is real and your grief is real. Give yourself grace and avoid placing expectations or deadlines on your healing.

Accept How You Grieve

Not everyone grieves in the same way, and your experience may look different from those around you. Your emotions, your pace and your response to loss are your own. You may not move through the same “stages” or milestones that others describe, and that is okay. Grief does not follow a universal pattern. Accept your grief as it is and give yourself permission to feel what you feel, when you feel it.

Release Guilt When Joy Returns

You may feel guilt when you experience moments of joy after a loss. This is sometimes called survivor guilt, and it can lead to thoughts such as, “Why should I feel happy when they are no longer here?”

It’s important to remember that your loved one would not want you to stay in pain. It is okay to give yourself permission to be happy and feelings of joy are not a betrayal of the love you lost. As you cope with grief, it’s natural to feel moments of joy again. These moments don’t erase your love — they honor it. Remember Ecclesiastes 3:4: There is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Joy and grief can exist together, and both are expressions of how deeply you care. 

Spiritual Coping Practices

Remember God During This Time

For many Christians, grief can bring up complicated emotions, including confusion or even anger toward God. These feelings are a normal part of mourning. You may move between sadness, frustration, questioning and longing, and God is big enough to hold it all.

Remember, Jesus grieved too. He wept for Lazarus, showing us that sorrow is not a sign of weak faith, but of deep love. Scripture reminds us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18), and He meets us in our pain.

If you feel alone or uncertain, reach out to someone who can walk alongside you. A pastor, counselor or trusted friend can offer support, prayer or simply a listening presence.

A Community That Cares

If you are part of Advent Christian Village or live nearby, Stephen Ministers at The Village Church are available for one-on-one care. They provide prayer and support for anyone coping with grief or loss. 

This year, The Village Church also offers a Blue Christmas Service, which is a quiet, reflective gathering that acknowledges the pain many feel during the holiday season. This special service provides space to grieve, pray and remember while affirming God’s promise of peace, companionship and steadfast love.

If you are coping with grief this holiday season, Advent Christian Village offers comfort, community and faith-based support. From the Blue Christmas Service to caring ministries like the Stephen Ministry, ACV provides a place where healing and hope can take root.

About Advent Christian Village

At Advent Christian Village, faith and compassion come together to create a community where grief is met with care and understanding. Advent Christian Village is a faith-based community in Live Oak, Florida, built on small-town values. Here, you can create your own lifestyle through a wide range of choices for housing and care while exploring opportunities to learn, serve and play. You’ll experience a community where neighbors truly care for one another, and you can age with meaning and purpose.

Call (386) 658-3333  or contact us online today to schedule a tour. 

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