What is grief? When this word comes to mind, what does it mean to you?
Many of us relate grief to death or losing a loved one. Although this is true and it is one of the most common types of grief, it’s not the only one.
Right now, it is important for us to recognize that we are all going through many types of grief due to the unexpected and constant changes of COVID-19.
Check out this new term: Disenfranchised Grief. This is the tendency to minimize certain things that cause feelings of grief. Are you guilty of this?
Whether we mean to or not, we often tell ourselves that we shouldn’t be grieving a certain thing. We compare our grief to others, thinking that we don’t have it as badly as our neighbor or the people we see on the news.
But here’s what we must remember…we all experience grief differently. We grieve the things that are important to us.
Here’s what to do: Be gentle with yourself. Be gentle with others. Be patient, and when you feel feelings of grief, take time to honor them. For more on grief during the pandemic, check out the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8o6bC2eZyc
Does your grief seem overwhelming? Do you need a little more help sorting out your thoughts?
Show Me Hope is here to help. It’s anonymous, and it’s free.
Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990
Tri-County Mental Health: 816-468-0400
