Every culture has its own customs and rituals for mourning loved ones. The coronavirus pandemic has turned many of these rituals upside down. Now we’re not just grieving the deceased, we are grieving the loss of traditions and rituals too.
Ways to Cope:
- Have a Ceremony: During this pandemic people are finding creative ways to celebrate loved ones until they can gather with family and friends.
Check out these for ideas:
- 10 Ideas for Funerals and Memorials When You Can’t Be Together
- Funerals in the Time of a Pandemic: A Toolkit for Children & Families
- Self-care: Take care of the basics like staying hydrated, eating, and sleeping. Don’t feel pressured to maintain “normalcy” even though normalcy is currently shifting.
- Grief Doesn’t Have a Timeline: Grief never truly leaves us. It becomes a piece of who we are. Eventually riding those waves of grief becomes easier.
- Remember Your Feelings are Valid: Everyone grieves differently. There is no right or wrong way in this process. Grief is not a linear process. The feelings you experience are real and valid.
- Stay Connected: Stay connected with loved ones. Cry together. Laugh together. Be angry together. Share happy memories together. If you feel reaching out is going to be difficult for you (which is totally valid) then perhaps ask friends and family to check in on you.
- Find Support: Many doctors and therapists are utilizing things like Telehealth for appointments. If you’re having trouble coping it could be beneficial to speak with a professional. You can also search for virtual support groups.
- Explore Techniques:
- Journaling
- Meditation
- Writing about your experiences as the pandemic unfolds
- Write a letter to the person who has just passed
- Express yourself through art
It can also be helpful to remember: We are in a pandemic that has caught the entire world by surprise. Difficult decisions had to be made for the health of our society as a whole, which were beyond the control of any individual.
Post-COVID-19
Making plans helps us feel more in control.
- Make a ‘to-do’ list of tasks that you will need to complete when the COVID-related restrictions ease. For example, going through their belongings.
- Plan a larger service and/or reception when pandemic restrictions have lifted.
- Consider attending a support group for bereaved families who were impacted by COVID-19.
Remember to breathe and take things a little at a time. You’re not alone.
I appreciated what you said about crying together. Sometimes showing people empathy is the fastest way to healing. My brother just lost his wife in a car accident and probably needs massive amounts of grief counseling and therapy.
Thank you for sharing Bob. Life can be so tragic and it does require tears, time and treasured loved ones to care for us during our acute grief and loss. Sending healing thoughts your way, Leigh-Ann.