The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted not just the way we live, but also how we care for the dying and bid farewell to our loved ones. A year later, things have only become worse. Millions are experiencing unimaginable loss and grief under circumstances that are hard to even process. Grief is a universal human emotion, and there is no right or wrong way to experience it. All losses experienced during the pandemic are significant and can delay a person’s ability to heal and recover. Sadly, coping with the grief of losing someone during the pandemic is something that everyone is struggling to deal with.
While grief is most commonly associated with the death of a loved one, it comprises much more. Grief can be a result of losing a job, inability to physically connect with friends and family, missing special events and milestones such as graduations, weddings or vacations, and experiencing major changes in daily routines, among others.
Here are a few ways to better understand your grief during this complicated time so that you can cope with the loss without impacting your mental health.
Acknowledge your feelings
Everyone responds to grief differently. Some avoid confronting their emotions altogether, while others give in to hopelessness, anger and resentment. However, not acknowledging your feelings only delays the healing process.
Allow yourself to have feelings about your loss and avoid focusing on what you think you “should” feel. Write down your thoughts in a journal to understand your emotions better. Think about your strengths and coping skills and how they can help you move forward. Consider other tough transitions you’ve experienced in life, such as an illness or a painful breakup. Acknowledging what you’ve lost is an effective way of responding to your grief and embarking on the recovery process.
Connect with people
When the pain of loss is unbearable, people often dissociate themselves from others and withdraw into their shells. But isolation only makes matters worse. Instead, when the weight of your loss and grief is too heavy, share it with the people you love. Reach out to friends and family. Seeing them and hearing their voices can provide a stronger sense of comfort and belonging. Research indicates that social interactions and social support can be highly successful in helping people cope with grief. The key is not to isolate yourself.
Create coping rituals
Recognising your grief is important, especially when coping with the loss of a loved one. Do this by establishing a daily or weekly coping ritual to honour your grieving process. This can be as simple as spending time remembering the person you have lost and reflecting on your memories together. You can light a candle, look through old photos or write about them. Creating a dedicated time for grieving can enable you to release your pain of losing someone and prevent it from building up.
Acknowledging and allowing oneself to experience feelings of loss and grief is an essential step in the healing process.
Social interactions and support from friends and family can provide comfort, belonging, and effective coping mechanisms to navigate grief.
Establishing regular coping rituals, such as setting aside time to remember the lost loved one or engaging in activities that promote reflection and remembrance, can help release pain and prevent emotional buildup associated with the loss.
Prioritizing rest, indulging in comforting activities, and spending time in nature promote healing and overall well-being.
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