Handling Holiday Stress and Grief
Anastasia Romero, MA, LPCC, NCC
December 5, 2025
The Holiday season is upon us. The excitement of cherished family time, the friends who come together, the food, and the gifts. Even with all the intentional time spent, the holidays do come with stress.
Stress of planning enough time to spend with everyone important and special in our lives. Preparing each dish of food that will be placed on the shared table to be Instagram worthy. Insuring each person on our list has the perfect gift for them.
Stress is normal but often holiday stress can be grief secretly hiding deep in the heart of those who have lost that special someone. The first holiday season without that special someone is hard. The 5th, 10th, and even 20th can be equally difficult. Parents secretly grieving their child while also making the holidays magical for their living children. The widow putting on that ornamental smile because she doesn’t want to be a burden to her family and friends. The friend that never got to say goodbye and hides the pain. The divorcée that is navigating the holidays solo. The newly single co-parent that does not get to spend this holiday season with their children.
Holidays are a time for togetherness, but when that togetherness is broken by death or by relationships which fell apart; the holiday season can seem endless, empty, and lonely.
This holiday season take time to check-in on the people around you. Make sure everyone in your circle is cared for, loved on, and shown they are seen. Seen through their grief, seen through their emptiness, and seen through their quiet pain.
If grief is quietly hiding in your heart or your missing that special someone please reach out to a trusted friend, devoted family member, or your therapist. If you need to find that someone to listen and support, start that search today by calling 719-388-3559.
If you feel the pain is too much to bare alone and you have thought of taking your own life, please call or text 988 and get the support you need today.
Let’s make this holiday season full of joy even through the unseen heartache and pain, because joy can start that much needed healing process. The greatest tips for sparking joy are to listen without planning your next comment, doing something fun that changes the routine, and welcoming others into your planned holiday festivities without expectations.
From our family to yours, Nexus Counseling Services wishes you a joyful holiday season!
Anastasia Romero, MA, LPCC, NCC
My name is Anastasia, and my passion is caring for and supporting others through counseling. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate and National Certified Counselor. I obtained my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University. I believe counseling is a collaborative journey between client and counselor. I am a trauma-informed counselor who will approach every client with Person-Centered Therapy. I have a foundation of Constructive Therapy and Reality Therapy. I also may integrate Existential Therapy and Gestalt Therapy into the process of therapy. I love the ability to learn the stories of each client’s life and am grateful to get the opportunity to support each client with the heartaches of being a human. I am a Colorado Native and Colorado Avalanche fan. I enjoy the beauty Colorado has to offer through walking and spending time in local parks with my family.