The last year has brought with it huge changes in most people’s lives. People all over the nation and the world are adapting to continued lay-offs, working from home, or high-pressure working environments. Children were not able to complete their school year, the summer was highly restricted, they weren’t able to play with their friends, and many are still not in traditional school now. Family members in many cases are still maintaining restrictions, as people with underlying conditions struggle with the realities of living in communities still trying to fight COVID-19. The overwhelm of rearraigning lives is receding for many, but the discomfort of this “new” normal remains.
This is grief. As people across the county begin to face the reality of their own situations, they finally have the opportunity to really process all that has been lost since the beginning of this year. They are grieving their expectations for themselves and their families. They are grieving jobs and education. They are grieving graduations and weddings. They are grieving for loved ones whose funerals they could not attend. They are recovering from illness themselves or have cared for someone who is. They are grieving for their former lives and trying to recognize themselves in this one. This sense is true for many people who struggle to comprehend how they are feeling and who are trying to understand whether their personal crisis is "over." In these moments it is most important to take time for yourself and engage in as much self-care as possible. Grief requires time, but self-care can help people manage day to day.
Self-care does not look the same for everyone. For many people, this process involves engaging in pleasant activities and limiting doomscrolling during their day. For some people, it is doing yoga or Pilates while for others it is taking a longer shower or reading a book. Others need to engage in physical exercise, while yet others seek comfort and joy in religious activities. Be aware that when in the face of this grief it is often easier to seek short term indulgences with more immediate results, which can be dangerous if this leads to harmful coping or avoidance. The self-care chosen should not only help to relieve stresses but should also be healthy in the long run. Self-care helps people better manage themselves so they can better handle their situation.
Remember, if you are having difficulty coping with the adjustments of the last year, you are in good company. Seek support from a local therapist to help you navigate through the changes you have faced. Many therapists are engaged in virtual platforms, so you will be able to find someone to work with even if you are still homebound. This is a communal grief, it will require a communal solution.
Self-care does not look the same for everyone. For many people, this process involves engaging in pleasant activities and limiting doomscrolling during their day. For some people, it is doing yoga or Pilates while for others it is taking a longer shower or reading a book. Others need to engage in physical exercise, while yet others seek comfort and joy in religious activities. Be aware that when in the face of this grief it is often easier to seek short term indulgences with more immediate results, which can be dangerous if this leads to harmful coping or avoidance. The self-care chosen should not only help to relieve stresses but should also be healthy in the long run. Self-care helps people better manage themselves so they can better handle their situation.
Remember, if you are having difficulty coping with the adjustments of the last year, you are in good company. Seek support from a local therapist to help you navigate through the changes you have faced. Many therapists are engaged in virtual platforms, so you will be able to find someone to work with even if you are still homebound. This is a communal grief, it will require a communal solution.
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