We’ve written many articles for Albertans looking for fun ways to celebrate the holiday season.
But celebrating is not for everyone – some of us are just trying to get through the season and survive.
With the winter solstice behind us, the festive glow of Christmas lights often falls short of interrupting the melancholy that can accompany these darker days.
The prevailing atmosphere of happiness and festivity can sometimes intensify feelings of sadness for those who are experiencing it.
Being alone during the holidays–or missing a loved one who once brought joy to this season–can lead to a deep sense of emptiness that no amount of holiday cheer or dazzling lights can remedy.
Whether it’s your first or 50th Christmas without a parent, sibling, friend, child, or pet – it’ll feel like one too many.
Losing someone is an ache that never completely goes away.
Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to take the pain away, and you just have to feel it. But some things can make that process a little easier.
There’s Help
In Alberta, you don’t have to go it alone if you’re struggling.
According to Keith Dobson, a clinical psychologist with the University of Calgary, you’re not the only one if you’re feeling worse during the holidays.
“There’s a concept in psychology called anniversary depression where people around the same time of year as they’ve lost a loved one will go through a period of re-grieving,” he explained to City News.
Reliving traditions brings up past emotions.
“Some of the things that we can do are to remember the person, to honour their memory, to talk about them,” he said.
If you need someone to talk to who can understand what you’re going through, The Cochrane and Area Hospice Society facilitates regular walks in Cochrane to offer peer support.
“It’s tough when someone has passed, so it offers a way to celebrate them in a positive way,” CAHS Chair Ozzie Sawicki told the Cochrane Eagle.
The Hospice Society meets at the SLS Centre on Tuesday mornings, walking from 10 to 12 on the walking track, then chatting over coffee afterwards.
The group provides a safe space for people to process and remember those they’ve lost.
Sawicki said the Cochrane group usually consists of around 15 people, who will go outside when the weather permits.
“It’s become a very close group of people,” he said.
“We’re in a society where talking about death is not something a lot of people are comfortable with, and the end of life is an important part of the journey,” he said.
“And we think it’s important to be able to talk about that.”
If this group isn’t your cup of tea, or you’re dealing with a more specific issue that’s giving you grief right now, there’s a large amount of peer support to be found across Alberta.
A search for Albertan support groups on Facebook turns up hundreds of specified local groups full of caring people organizing in-person events and walks or simply offering an ear to almost any issue you can think of.
This is also a great way to find Christmas meet-ups or events if you’ve just moved to the province and are looking for others to share in the holiday spirit with.
If you need outside guidance, Alberta 211 is a 24/7 service that you can call or text, and they’ll guide you through finding the best professional or casual services to suit your needs in your area.
None of these services can replace a lost love, but they promise warmth and connection through even the darkest season.
