Coping with Grief During the Holidays

Submitted by Hospice of Marion County

The holidays can bring emotional feelings, both positive and negative, making it a challenging time for many. This time of year can be especially hard for those who have lost a loved one. However, if we focus on the positive memories, remembering the light of their life shared with friends and family, it can help us cope.

Hospice of Marion County is hosting a Lights of Love event at no charge to the public on Thursday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. at its memorial park located at 2895 SE 62nd Street, Ocala (between Estelle’s House and the Monarch Center for Hope and Healing). This event is offered as a way to remember those who filled our lives with love and light. There will be holiday lights, music, readings and refreshments to enjoy while sharing warm memories. RSVP: (352) 291-5143.

Death can happen to anyone at any age; it can be a sudden accident or anticipated over a long period of time due to a critical illness. Yet, we are never really ready to accept the loss. Grief is a healing process that takes time and is different for each person. It’s normal for a person to go through a wide range of feelings – anger, guilt, sadness, depression, anxiety, acceptance, and eventually hope. Sharing these feelings with others is beneficial on your journey to healing.

The Monarch Center for Hope and Healing, a program of Hospice of Marion County, provides grief counseling at no charge for Marion County residents. We all will eventually experience the loss of a friend or loved one and the Monarch Center is there to help guide you through your emotional journey to healing. This service is provided by trained professionals and offers grief counseling sessions to individuals or groups, which are available for children, teens and adults either in-person or via telehealth.

Services include:
• Adult Grief Support groups (Friends in Grief) offer comfort and encouragement
• Memorial Services of Remembrance are special times to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have died
• Grief Care (introductory class) seminars provide education about the journey of grief
• Grief in the Workplace to help organizations that have lost an employee
• Monthly Workshops for the general public
• Seminars with the school system
• Teen Tuesdays and Club Soul are programs tailored just for teens experiencing grief
• Camp Mariposa, held twice a year for children ages 5-12, is a day-long interactive session
• Assessment services and community resource coordination (short-term)
• Private consultations about Advance Directives (Living Wills)

Visit http://www.monarchcenter-marion.com/index.html to learn more or call (352) 873-7456.