How To Face The Process Of Psychological Grief Due To Coronavirus?

Although the first wave of coronavirus infections seems to have already passed us by, the impact it has generated on our society is still very active, and it seems that it will be with us for several months.

In fact, unfortunately there are many people who are still assimilating the emotional blow that this season of infections, business closures and deaths has dealt.

During the following lines we will focus on the latter, to see what it means to go through a period of psychological mourning for the death of a loved one during the COVID-19 crisis

The effects of psychological grief due to coronavirus

Let’s start with the fundamentals: what is psychological grief? Is about a psychological process in which emotional disturbance occurs due to a situation of loss of something or someone important to us.

The classic form of grief occurs due to the loss of a loved one, such as a family member, a friend or a pet, but in reality it can also appear after moving to another country, suffering a serious illness that has left consequences, losing a business, etc.

Thus, psychological grief can take many different forms and it would be absurd to try to classify them all exactly because each case is unique, in a certain sense. However, there are reasons to understand that The grief produced in the context of the coronavirus pandemic has a series of special characteristics that make them worth commenting on.

Firstly, due to the security measures taken to avoid contagion, social distancing has been strictly applied, including in cases of patients admitted to hospitals. This means that many people have had to be away from their loved ones when they die.

In addition, many funeral ceremonies have had to be postponed, so the grieving processes of many people have been affected by this fact, which makes their closure difficult.

Secondly, those who have lost a loved one They see how this reality is mixed with a complex situation marked by uncertainty and in which many are affected by the beginning of another economic crisis. This means that in many cases grief is combined with an added source of stress and anxiety.

To do?

These are guidelines to follow that you can take into account to facilitate your grieving process if you have lost a loved one during the coronavirus crisis.

1. Don’t try to block negative thoughts

Trying to keep thoughts that cause emotional pain away from our consciousness is a mistake, because That makes us continue to obsess over them, it gives them more power

2. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a set of practices that favor the emergence of a psychological state known as Mindfulness, very useful for managing stress and keeping intrusive thoughts that generate discomfort at bay.

3. Express yourself

Don’t be afraid to show your emotions seeking support from people you feel close to is a positive thing to organize ideas and release tensions.

4. Create your own farewell ceremonies

It is not necessary to rely on conventional funeral ceremonies to say goodbye to your loved ones.

In fact, saying goodbye in your own way is as or more meaningful than a funeral attended by dozens of people. There is no need for luxury or great aesthetic elements; Create your own symbolic event taking into account what united you with that person.

5. Make sure you get enough rest

It is common for people who go through a psychological grieving process to feel like they are not doing anything productive, either due to lack of motivation or fatigue.

If this is your case, don’t be fooled; you still need as much or more sleep than in normal situations Set a time to go to bed and make sure you stick to that protocol.

6. Don’t avoid remembering your moments with that person

Focusing on memories of past experiences with the deceased person is not a bad thing; In fact, it helps to process grief. Of course, focus above all on positive experiences, whether because they are joyful or because you think they brought you something good.

Are you looking for psychotherapeutic support?

If you are going through bad times due to a difficult grieving process and you think you need professional support, you can contact us. In Cribecca Psychology We have a team of psychologists trained to care for patients of all ages and with a lot of experience in therapy processes for emotional problems; We can help you both in person at our center located in Seville and through online therapy via video call. To see more information about Cribecca Psychology, access this page.