Grief Awareness

National Grief Awareness Day August 30th: Coping with grief and loss during COVID-19

Walking through the journey of grief and loss is tough by itself. Add the COVID-19 pandemic and how it changed the face of being by loved one’s side or honoring loved ones after their death, along with a hodgepodge of anxiety, guilt, anger, and the journey of grief is exasperated. Because grief is generally associated with the death of loved ones rather than loss of job, lifestyle, or way of life: Grief is often viewed through the lens of an expiration date. Meaning this should be over by now. However, I have discovered it is a daily journey. Filling our eyes with tears, other times with laughter, anger, anxiety, guilt, regret; as grief counselors and advocates, we offer tools and safe spaces for those to express, heal, and embrace their pain, it is an individual journey. Many times, people aren't aware the emotions felt are the experience of grief. Giving grief a name can be a relief and helps in identifying what you are feeling in context.

Making sense of loss and death is a process of reconstructing our world, our roles in our world, and how we engage with one another, and the belief that good things, things other than loss, are still possible. (Grief Uncovered). However, the pandemic has pushed another layer of loss and grief in many families.

Learning to see grief, not as something that needs fixing but to live through it, is a pivotal transition in how we walk through grief. The resistance and dread towards the journey begin to dissolve. Support Groups (Online) are a healthy place to support you through the process of grief, reminding you are not alone. For more intense work grief counseling is another support system. "The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will heal, and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again, but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to." – Elisabeth Kubler Ross and David Kessler.

There is no quick 1, 2, 3, and it's over. Instead, it is a lifetime of literally learning to breathe again with the longing, ache, and pain of death and or loss. Learning to inhale and exhale while riding the wave of emotions without guilt or suppression. Healing in grief lies right at the precious intersection of honoring our deep disappointment, our sadness, our rage, and leaning into the feelings and emotions.

Lurinda (Iris) Sumpter - Jones

MA Student Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Certificate for Grief in the DSM-5: Changes in Diagnosing Grief-Related Disorders - PESI

Certificate for Grief Treatment: Current Evidence-Based Approaches to Care Across the Lifespan - PESI

Certificate: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate – University of South Florid - Muma College of Business

RCR Micro-Credential - Citi Program Saybrook University

For additional support through your journey with grief CLICK HERE