Blue Ridge Hospice Offers Support For Those Grieving on Holidays
By: Carmen Chau
Updated: November 9, 2012
WINCHESTER, VA - The holidays are meant to be warm and exciting but for some, the holidays can be difficult especially when loved ones are missing.
"People feel very overwhelmed this time of year. There's a lot of anxiety that comes when you've lost a loved one with the approaching holidays because the sights and sounds of the season bring back grief there are constant reminders of their loved one not being here," says Tracy Knight, a bereavement counselor at Blue Ridge Hospice.
Blue Ridge Hospice have been helping people cope and heal for 30 years.
"We try to meet each individual where they're at in their need because grief is very personal. How I grieve would be much different than how you would grieve or anybody else," says John Reese, also a bereavement counselor.
While they have the passion and expertise to lend a shoulder, they say not every circumstance is the same. In fact, some are harder than others.
"I think some of the most difficult challenges are dealing with traumatic loss and that is a loss that somebody might die in a car accident, could be a suicide. Something like that, that's very unusual and very sudden," says Reese.
Counselors say they help turn their clients' tears and pain into laughter and happy memories. They also help children who do not understand or cannot express their sadness.
"We also do a lot of laughing here because we do have a sad job and what we're dealing with is people sometimes at their worst and so it's important that we find laughter throughout the day," adds Knight.
Counselors say grieving has an unlimited time period and many end up healing naturally, but they are here to help through the process knowing that you can never replace the ones you love and remind you of how to keep the memories alive through holiday spirit.
If you, or someone you know could some some extra support throughout the holidays, the Blue Ridge Hospice is now offering a Holiday Support Series. For more information, click here.
"People feel very overwhelmed this time of year. There's a lot of anxiety that comes when you've lost a loved one with the approaching holidays because the sights and sounds of the season bring back grief there are constant reminders of their loved one not being here," says Tracy Knight, a bereavement counselor at Blue Ridge Hospice.
Blue Ridge Hospice have been helping people cope and heal for 30 years.
"We try to meet each individual where they're at in their need because grief is very personal. How I grieve would be much different than how you would grieve or anybody else," says John Reese, also a bereavement counselor.
While they have the passion and expertise to lend a shoulder, they say not every circumstance is the same. In fact, some are harder than others.
"I think some of the most difficult challenges are dealing with traumatic loss and that is a loss that somebody might die in a car accident, could be a suicide. Something like that, that's very unusual and very sudden," says Reese.
Counselors say they help turn their clients' tears and pain into laughter and happy memories. They also help children who do not understand or cannot express their sadness.
"We also do a lot of laughing here because we do have a sad job and what we're dealing with is people sometimes at their worst and so it's important that we find laughter throughout the day," adds Knight.
Counselors say grieving has an unlimited time period and many end up healing naturally, but they are here to help through the process knowing that you can never replace the ones you love and remind you of how to keep the memories alive through holiday spirit.
If you, or someone you know could some some extra support throughout the holidays, the Blue Ridge Hospice is now offering a Holiday Support Series. For more information, click here.
