This article was updated on 27 July, 2022.
It’s close to two and a half years since the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic and grief is still hitting us and loved ones are still dying. The latest Australian Covid statistics from the ABC are here. We have gone from lockdowns, restrictions and wearing face masks to a fairly unrestricted lifestyle as we face the inevitabilities of living with Covid-19. But how has the last two and half years affected us? And what of our collective and ambiguous grief?
Today we’re re-sharing this post, “The OKs of Covid-19: validating our responses to the pandemic”, which comes from the Home Nursing Agency, Pennsylvania, USA via Deb Rawling’s Linked-In page. Thank you Deb. Deb is a Senior Lecturer in Palliative Care, Flinders University, South Australia.
This simple guide has 10 great insights to help cope with the grief that swirls around us now. These can be big ones such as the death of someone we know or the loss of work and income.
Or the loss of a dream – like my niece Ellie’s shattered dream to have a big family wedding, two years in the planning and now postponed indefinitely. Or smaller, like too much isolation or loss of routine.
Here is number seven.
7. It is OK to grieve ALL losses at this time.
“There are many individuals struggling with unimaginable losses at this time, such as the complete loss of income or the death of a loved one. Without discrediting a loss of this nature, it is important to recognize that all losses, regardless if society considers them to be small or large, can cause people to grieve,” The Healing Patch says.
“Some people may have been looking forward to walking across the stage at graduation, or cheering on their team at their first-ever professional sporting event, or marrying their best friend in front of all of their loved ones. Suddenly, these events have been postponed or may never happen. Allow yourself and others to grieve.”
Yes, even the tiny griefs have to be acknowledged, even if not by others, then at least by ourselves.
Today we heard a swirl of rumours that strict limitations on visits to homes would be extended so that 10 people could gather, just in time for Mother’s Day in Australia, on Sunday May 10. But Premier Gladys Berejiklian has now said the more severe restrictions to just two adult visitors have to stay.
The Healing Patch resource helps deal with the disappointment of that. And it can also be adapted to other griefs, post Covid-19.
Dive into this informative article where we look at the successes of the so-called poster child for Covid-Sweden.