By Lisa Krysiak
Families all over the globe are dealing with separation due to this pandemic, and most are dealing with some type of loss. There’s the loss of jobs, not to mention income and then there’s the loss of people we hold dear to us. So how do we cope through these uncertain times and hold it all together; everyone’s mental well-being is at stake during this particular time.
With the death toll reaching upwards of thousands (or a million), funeral arrangements have been put on hold for many throughout the world. People have had to make decisions on ‘what and how’ to proceed with arrangements, such as cremation and services. This has been hard to deal with for so many families and friends; regardless of age, death never gets easier. Loss is the one thing we all deal with at some point throughout our lives (it’s inevitable) and ‘how’ we all cope is different by far.
When dealing with the loss of someone close, it’s hard to imagine life without that person; the absence can feel devastating and the grieving process begins. The fear of the unknown affects most of us, and when someone we love leaves us, we have a tendency to feel overwhelmed and profoundly sad. Emotions of sorts take over our bodies, leaving one with disrupted sleep, anger, sadness, and even disbelief at times. Emotions like these can be disruptive to our lives, especially if the deceased was someone significant to you. No matter the situation, we all must use coping skills to help with healing hearts.
Facing your grief and dealing with it should be the first to tackle, and every individual handles it the best they know how. Reactions to loss can mean crying, extreme sadness and even loneliness; there’s no wrong or right way to grieve. Some people don’t cry; it doesn’t mean they have no feelings; it’s harder for some to show emotion. Accepting the loss will move you in the right direction, but it doesn’t mean you must forget about them to move on; in fact, most will experience something that sparks an emotional trigger (to the death) during this time, and it’s okay if this happens. We honor those we lose by keeping our memories alive and close to our hearts. We pick up the pieces as we go along our ways, while healing takes place. Reminiscing with others about good times and the show of photos are often shared with loved ones during this process. The beginning is the toughest though…as hearts feel heavy and emotions are deeply wounded, but as time passes by, it becomes a little less weighted; physically and emotionally.
People everywhere are currently experiencing loss, and as I sit and write these words, I too am grieving loss. My son-in-law lost his father due to a freak accident, and I lost my uncle (dad’s brother) yesterday. Life hasn’t been easy for any of us or anyone I know. I’m very sad, I cry, but I know that my Heavenly Father has welcomed them home. For all of those suffering from loss, I will pray for your families, and know that their memories will last forever. Until we meet again…God Bless, I Love you all.
Make your week count.