The local Mental Health Association says there are ways to cope.
Frederick, Md (KM) The Christmas and New Year’s season has often been called “the most wonderful time of the year.” But that’s not always the case, especially for those who’ve lost a loved one during the holidays. “With anybody that has lost a loved one, especially during the holidays, we, of course, discuss those feelings with them, and then try to help see if there’s a way that they can honor the person through the holidays,” says Nancy Miller, a clinical supervisor at the Mental Health Association of Frederick County.
“Having memories, sharing photos, sharing fun times,” Miller continues. “So we try to help them look at, again, the positive memories that they have to help honor the person.”
There are also those during the Holidays who lost their jobs due to downsizing or some other reason. “We try to empower people to see what the positives are and what they have control over, what they can do,” she says., “And if it a holiday season that they don’t have financial resources, maybe there’s some community resources they can connect with.”
And then there are those individuals where nothing bad has happened to them, but they don’t feel like celebrating the Holidays with family and friends. Miller says it’s best for them to make plan to help get through the Christmas and New Year’s period, focused on what they can do and set some limits. “If they don’t want to go a company party but they’re expected to be there, how can they manage it. Might they just go for a little bit of time. Again, how help them figure what would work for them,” she says.
For anyone who has trouble coping, they can contact the Mental Health Association’s call center at 211, or 1-866-411-6803, or they can come to the walk-in crisis center at 225 Jefferson Street in Frederick.
By Kevin McManus