Many of us may have experienced higher levels of anxiety, fear and sadness etc. over these past months. There are many different types of grief, and what makes this pandemic situation particularly unique is many of us are experiencing grief at the same time.
COVID-19 is changing our lives. While some of us may be dealing with grief at the loss of a loved one as a result of this virus, collectively we are experiencing an overwhelming loss of normalcy and control over our lives and our futures.
It is more than just not being able to do the things we would normally do.
It is a culmination of:

For some of us it also includes the loss of our jobs and our economic security. We are all grieving, and we are doing it together.
Additionally, the anxiety that some of us may be feeling at present can also be, in part, due to a specific type of grief known as anticipatory grief. Anticipatory grief is the feeling we get when we are uncertain about what the future holds. Unhealthy anticipatory grief often leads our minds to think about the future and imagine the worst is possible.What can I do about this grief?There are five stages of grief that people commonly experience. These stages of grief are not linear and can happen in a variety of different orders. Some people may experience all stages in one day, and others may only ever experience two or three stages. The importance here is about acknowledging the stage you are experiencing and moving to a place of acceptance and therefore, control.The stages of COVID-19 grief:DenialThis is often the first emotion we experience; it usually is accompanied by a state of shock. It can also be described as a state of disbelief that this is happening. In this stage a person may be thinking for example, “People are overreacting, this virus won’t actually affect us”. Once the denial and shock begin to wear off, then you may find other feelings that may have been suppressed by the denial, start to become more evident.AngerSome or all of us may find ourselves feeling angry at the current situation. We might be angry about the loss of normalcy, or angry about activities or events we were looking forward to being cancelled. Try not to suppress these feelings of anger. Anger is a normal and a necessary state of grief. By recognizing the anger and allowing yourself to feel it, you will move to a place of healing quicker.BargainingThis stage is a way of falsely making yourself believe you can avoid the grief through a type of negotiation. By bargaining or making promises to oneself (or a higher power), it can help give a perceived sense of control over something that feels so out of control. Bargaining is another line of defense (although weaker than the denial stage) to protect us from reality.Depression and sadnessMany of us may be experiencing feelings of intense sadness during this time. You might even find yourself being increasingly tearful. These are normal reactions to shock and change.AcceptanceFinding acceptance is about recognizing and accepting a new normal. It is through acceptance we are able to experience control and meaning. Acceptance does not mean it’s okay that people are getting sick, rather real acceptance is that you are acknowledging that this is happening, you are staying healthy and you are staying connected with your loved ones. Often times, acceptance may be simply having more good days than bad ones.MeaningIt is often in our darkest moments we look for and can experience real meaning. For us, this lockdown provides numerous opportunities to find meaning. Parents are spending more time playing with their children, we are learning to connect with people via technology, we are appreciating the freedom of getting outside for exercise. Think about ways you can find meaning in what you are experiencing. While you may have to keep a physical distance from others during this time, it doesn’t mean you need to be socially or emotionally distant.
On the other hand, if you find yourself needing a bit of space from people then that’s okay too. The most important thing here is to be kind to yourself.If you ever feel overwhelmed by these emotions, you can always connect with our psychological assistance online at eahomecare.in/psychological-assistance