If you’re grieving the news and events surrounding Coronavirus you’re not alone.
Whether you’re upset that your vacation has been cancelled or have been quarantined (mandatory or not), make no mistake about it, people all over the world are grieving.
Most people associate grief with death and death alone. And while death is certainly a loss, there are many other life events that can produce feelings of grief related to COVID-19.
A big one is loss of safety.
It can be scary when everything we are familiar with changes.
Many things we accept as normal have been turned upside down. This leaves many of us, myself included, feeling like there’s an uncertain future.
How is this grief?
Don't these definitions apply to at least one, if not all of the situations above?
How do you know you have unresolved grief?
I used to gamble, shop and eat to avoid my feelings. Guess what? It worked! They distracted me short term, but didn’t help me long term. I was simply using the wrong tools. The Grief Recovery Method gave me effective tools that are proven to work. They can work for you too.
Can you relate?
Have you tried talking honestly about your fears only to be told that you’re living in fear. I don’t know about you, but when I see people making fun of Coronavirus online or have been told that I’m overreacting, it doesn’t make me want to be vulnerable about my feelings.
What can you do?
Find someone safe to talk to. And be safe for others to talk to.
Go first. Tell the truth about yourself, so other people feel comfortable to do the same.
Listen and talk without judgement, criticism or analysis. That goes for judging yourself too.
If you’ve participated in any of our Workshops, Grief Support Groups, or read our books then you’ve done the work and have the tools. That doesn’t mean you’ll never grief. All people do! But you know how to go first and be honest with others. If you need someone to talk to try reaching out to someone you met in your Grief Recovery Workshop.
Grab a copy of The Grief Recovery Handbook and browse our blogs for more tools and helpful information.
If you need help talking to children about Coronavirus read this: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/blog/2020/03/how-talk-your-kids-about-coronavirus
Please know that grief is normal and natural during these times. Even if you don’t know someone who has died from COVID-19, it’s touching many of our lives in many different ways.
Our hearts go out to everyone.
Reprinted from GriefRecoveryMethod.