Coping with grief during the holidays

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (UPI) -- For people who are in the grieving process, the holidays can enhance feelings of personal grief, according to a U.S. expert.

Traditionally, the holidays are a time of family, friends and laughter, but for people who are in the grieving process, grief can separate us from what used to make us happy, according to Cynthia Bozich-Keith of Purdue University's School of Nursing.

However, although every person's grief is individual, there are several things a grieving person can do to get through the season.

She suggests:

-- Be sure to take time out to care for yourself, whether it is through pampering or just slowing down your pace.

-- Be sure to eat a nutritious diet, exercise, get adequate sleep and avoid alcohol.

-- Talk about your feelings with people you love and who love you. Allow yourself the right to talk about the person who died.

-- Be realistic about the difference between what you want to do and what you can do versus what you should do.

-- Don't feel guilty if you find yourself enjoying yourself around the holidays.

-- Embrace your memories and find comfort in them. Our memories often bring us to both tears and laughter, but they are what sustain us through the years.