Coping with Grief
- Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb, 59, became emotional during a live broadcast as she talked about losing her father in high school, admitting she sometimes feels the stigma of being an “older mom.”
- Kotb adopted Haley Joy, 6, in 2017 and Hope Catherine, 4, in 2019 after experiencing fertility struggles following her breast cancer battle.
- The holiday season can sometimes bring on more emotions, especially after experiencing loss
- To keep your mental health in check, it’s important to be aware of signs that something is affecting your mind, and don’t be afraid to reach out to a trusted family member or friend or a health professional if the feelings are too overwhelming to the point that they are affecting your daily life activities.
The beloved TV star, a breast cancer survivor, began the topic while discussing Sienna Miller’s newly-released Vogue cover, which shows the 41-year-old actress baring her baby bump.
Read MoreAddressing the Stigma of Being an Older Parent
“I think a lot of people do that,” Kotb tells her Live with Hoda & Jenna co-host Jenna Bush Hager, 42. “Like you want to beat them to the punch, so you make the joke about, ‘Oh, I’m an older mom,'” she said.Speaking on her own experience of adopting daughters Haley Joy, 6, and Hope Catherine, 4, later in life with financier Joel Schiffman, her former fiancé, Kotb said, “I’ve heard through different avenues that sometimes people are like, ‘Wow, you did this late? Wow.'”
Continuing, Kotb said she is “so happy and fulfilled” with her decision and doesn’t feel “any ounce of shame or ‘ouch’ — because my dad died when I was in college. You get your parent for as long as you get your parent, and they lay a foundation that you cannot shake.”
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Kotb adopted Haley in 2017 and Hope in 2019 after experiencing fertility struggles following her breast cancer battle.
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Feelings of Grief
During her share with her colleague and off-screen pal, Kotb couldn’t help but tear up while mentioning her father. With loss, the grief can stay with you for life, and it is understandable to be even more sensitive during the holiday season when the weight feels even heavier.
It is always important to check in on yourself and your loved ones, especially over the holidays.
Checking in with Yourself
To keep your mental health in check, it’s important to be aware of signs that can be subtle that something is affecting your mind. These signs include:
- A change in eating or sleeping habits
- Losing interest in people or usual activities
- Experiencing little or no energy
- Numbness and/or feelings of hopelessness
- Turning to drinking or drugs
- Non-typical angry, upset, or on-edge feelings
- Yelling/fighting with loved ones
- Experiencing mood swings
- Intrusive thoughts
- Trouble getting through daily tasks
These symptoms can vastly vary from person to person. Everyone experiences grief differently.
Be sure to talked to a trusted family member, friend or professional when you are feeling one or more unbearable symptoms. Just having someone listen and making you feel seen can help you cope.
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