Insight & Action: Grief & Gratitude

How to navigate grief during the holidays

Q&A with Dr. Lere

My real-life reactions to real-world challenges.

Dear Dr. Lere

I am (not-so) secretly dreading this holiday season. My mom died this summer, and it's my first holiday season without her. This was her favorite time of year and just thinking about an empty chair at the table is painful. What do I do when there's so much pressure put on a "happy holiday" front when that's the opposite of what I feel?