Harbor City Church join seminar on helping

Harbor City Church will attend GriefShare’s seminar on "Surviving the Holidays" for those who lost their loved ones. (Photo taken from the official website of Harbor City Church)

Harbor City Church will join "Surviving the Holidays," a seminar that aims to help those who lost their loved ones survive the holiday season, on Monday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The church’s announcement posted that the GriefShare community will host the online workshop.

They added that GriefShare is where people care for and help those suffering from grief.

Sharing Grief with others

The GriefShare section mentioned that they are a group concerned with those experiencing challenging moments. They stated that no one has to be alone in dealing with grief.

Besides, the group said they welcome those interested anytime since each course is “self-contained,” as added on the website. They said the participants would be able to catch up on the lessons they missed in their next 13-week cycle.

Overwhelming Feeling during Holiday

The Mayo Clinic System website revealed that the holiday season could be tough for those who have lost their loved ones. Regardless of when they died, the feelings could be magnified and may seem overwhelming during the holiday season, as the website explains.

Moreover, the website stressed that the pandemic had added another level of grief. Some people choose to be disconnected from needing help. They noted that the traditions changed as individuals celebrated gatherings with family and friends.

However, the clinic explained some ways to help people restore their balance during this season. They said that if people could understand the impact of grief on themselves, it could help them cope with their feelings.

Besides, they could make plans with their families or friends close to them to deal with grief during the holiday, as further mentioned on the website. They explained that these activities might help them control their rough patches and find comfort in unique and unexpected places.

Universal, Understandable Response

The clinic emphasized that grieving is a “universal” and accepted human reaction to loss. But they explained that the way people respond and process varies greatly. They said each individual is unique, and how and when those feelings affect them will also change.

The website noted what C.S. Lewis says Bereavement is a universal and essential part of people’s experience of love.

Physical Impact

In addition, they explained that there is no predictable schedule and pattern for those who are grieving. As further mentioned, it could affect people physically, whether on their emotional or expected behaviors.

The clinic said that it is vital for individuals to acknowledge the physical impact of grieving. The website stated that some people could quickly feel tired or have difficulty eating or sleeping. As further added, they may think it could be just headaches or other diseases.

Moreover, the website explained that people could have trouble focusing on their work and may have a low tolerance.

The clinic said that part of the brain is accountable for emotion and stress. The website explains that these symptoms are active during grieving, so the brain is interrupted from working. They added that grief could change brain chemicals and the function of hormones.

With these changes, the immune system of those grieving could be compromised, the website emphasized.