The COVID-19 pandemic has not only seen hundreds of thousands fighting for their lives but also lost wondering how to cope with COVID-19 deaths.
Typically, when a member of the society dies, friends and family of the deceased receive moral and emotional support. This may come from their friends or peers. Unfortunately, during this pandemic period, the tradition has been cut back. With the new public health guidelines traveling to condole with bereaved families and friends has become a thing of the past. Again, negative stereotypes surrounding the novel coronavirus have seen such families deal with not only grief but social stigma.
While this natural life-changing event is painful, it is crucial for for you who are experiencing grief to learn ways in which you can cope with the death of your beloved one.
Watch out for these four essential tips that will help you or your friend cope with the COVID-related death of a loved one.
Give yourself time to process that the person you loved has died as a result of COVID 19
Well, it’s true you are in pain and must be feeling sad. Good news, you are alive and kicking- we still need you tomorrow. Having that in mind, take some time off from your regular duties and grief so that you can be able to move on.
Yes, times have been hard, and possibly you still have errands to run or bills to pay. Unfortunately, the longer you suspend the grieving process, the slower it shall be for you to recover and move on.
In this period, you may feel like you need to stick alone, but if possible, connect with your friends and family. Get someone to talk to or to help raise that good memory you had with the deceased. You can also join a virtual support group where you can also get people who are also struggling with grief.
If help comes your way, do not turn it down.
Some people, when dealing with grief, may want to be let alone. People will often grieve differently; in case this is you, feel free to excuse yourself and take some time apart. However, if friends or family offer to help out on say burial arrangements or to pay some bills, let them help.
Remember, they may also be grieving just as you are. In helping out, some of your responsibilities are being relieved.
You can also accept help in processing your grief. As the adage goes, a problem shared is a problem half solved. Talking about the pain, memories, and even how you feel goes a long way in overcoming the pain. In this COVID-19 pandemic period, call up a friend you can trust and share how you feel regarding your current scenario.
Keep the positive memories of the loved one you lost to COVID-19.
As one way to help you deal with your pain, you can talk to someone about the memories you have about your departed dear one. As you let go of your loved one, it is essential to entertain good memories of the departed. If possible, participating in an activity you participated in helps you deal with the reality of death. Again, you can even have a scrapbook with photos or also jot down your memories in a journal.
Keep healthy as you grieve the loss of a loved one due to Coronavirus.
Talking about mental health, there seems to be a great association between your physical fitness and mental fitness. That means an inability to be physically fit direct affects mental health. During grief, some people may develop not only feeding disorders but also lifestyle disorders. Actually, as others lose appetite, others overeat.
As you grieve this season, do not create more health problems for yourself. Eat right and have an adequate amount of sleep. If possible, you may also take a jog or do some physical exercise as it shall help you relax, and at the same time, you shall be recharging your brain.
In conclusion:
Lastly, we still need you. While death is a likely outcome of any disease, we do not want you to have you strive for your life as a result of COVID-19. So, ensure you are protecting yourself from catching this deadly infection. Take it positively when measures such as quarantine or isolation of contacts with the deceased are taken. They are not meant to hurt or embarrass you, but it is through this that you get tested and treated for any prevailing symptoms. Moreover, participating in such will not only be a move towards following public health advisories, but it will also help overcome COVID-19 in totality.
Also, Read Under China’s unbending virus control policy, the
