Coping with feelings of grief and loss is hard enough already, but in the COVID-19 era, those feelings have made things much more difficult. People will suffer new challenges that we still can't predict yet.
Adults may grieve the loss of job, housing, family or friends while struggling with finances and supporting their families. Children and teenagers may mourn the loss of major milestones such as graduations, first days of school, birthdays, and school sports seasons. With social distancing and indoor gathering restrictions, children and teenagers may feel more isolated than ever from their friends and loved ones.
People have had to deal with the loss of a sense of identity, social connections, everyday freedoms, jobs, and financial stability. You can even feel grief for something that feels like a loss of normalcy. Research shows that losing a job can cause a lengthy period of grief separate from anxiety or depression. On top of these losses, many people are mourning the deaths of loved ones and friends.
Signs of Grief
We all experience grief in our lifetimes. Although we would expect feelings of pain, numbness, depression, rage and anxiety, symptoms for those experiencing grief from other losses might be less clear.
Some signs of grief include:
Inability to concentrate on normal tasks
Sleep issues
Irritable thoughts
Headaches and stomach upset
Lethargy or low energy
Re-experiencing past grief
Engaging in unhealthy coping behaviors such as overeating, drinking, or needing to be online all the time to deal with anxiety
Avoidance of thinking and discussing the pandemic
The good news is that people appear to be resilient to grief. Typically, after a crisis is over, people can enter a point of understanding where they can adapt and cope with the loss.
Your Feelings Are Valid, and Grief is Natural
Grief is a normal answer to loss, and it is hard to understand such extreme feelings. There is no right or wrong way of doing it. Grief is also fleeting, even though we are in the middle of its grasp. People who manage loss well can expect to feel periods of grief and periods of appreciation or even joy.
Rejecting death or self-righteousness, remorse, rage, or shame can impede healing during acute grief. You need to bring happiness and fulfillment back into your life. It could take some time so be patient with yourself.
Just try not to hold yourself off from getting and savoring pleasant emotions. Letting yourself be amused and entertained, and even smiling, is okay. As we accept loss, welcome a new reality, and restore our well-being, we can bounce back and move on.
Recognize Your Grief
Many people are not sure how to place their anxiety or silent suffering amid the pandemic. We can take charge of our feelings to help cope with loss, whether it is in the form of their loved ones, friends, careers, financial situations, sense of self-worth, and so on.
People can write in journals to put words to the loss, and to move forward. You will be surprised how Writing about emotional challenges can boost your both physical and mental health.
Name your personal and collective losses and write how you are using your personal strengths and abilities to cope with them. Some of us may not have experienced devastating events before, but we have been through other tough transitions. Write about how you went through a difficult divorce or breakup, financial hardships, or other major life transitions. Think about your recuperation and healing from those events.
Keep in Touch with Social Connections
Social support can be crucial in helping move past sadness, rather than being trapped in it. Mental health professionals encourage people to make time to check in with their loved ones and friends through phone calls, text messages, video chat and social media. Stay in touch with people whose jobs and families were affected as the stress will continue after quarantine ends.
How Loss and Grief Can Affect You
Grief is a natural reaction to loss, but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many facets of the usual mourning cycle to a halt. How you manage your feelings will rely on a broad variety of factors like your resilience and support networks. Give yourself permission to mourn during this tough time and treat yourself and others with compassion.
For more information or schedule appointment online please our PTSD treatment page or call us at 919-647-4600
