Modern Grief Resources In A Pandemic

What makes it harder is dying alone. This is the sad reality that families have had to deal with since COVID-19 2020 shattered many lives.

Medical front-liners try to transport patients to hospitals as quickly as possible to avoid spreading the disease. Unfortunately, not all patients make it back home after being diagnosed with the virus. For some, that ambulance ride may signal the last time they see their families.

Before the pandemic, families would hold a dying loved one's hands and whisper words of love and farewell. Crowded wakes and funerals would be held to celebrate those who’ve passed away.

Aside from the death of loved ones, another cause of grief has been a loss of control. You might think that it’s a minor thing. After all, plans change, people leave, and circumstances may go against us. However, we’ve lost a lot of the rights and privileges that we used to take for granted.

We can no longer come and go as we please. Cities have gone on lockdown to lessen the spread of the virus. During a lockdown, no one is allowed to step outside except for essential tasks. Travel restrictions are also in place for international travelers, seniors, immunocompromised, and minors.

Children have been pulled out of school, leaving parents with no choice but to do distance learning. For parents, this means they no longer have leisure or “me time.” They are consumed with juggling remote work, childcare, errands, chores, and homeschooling. Burnout is a strong possibility.

This season, you need someone to remind you that you shouldn't let the pandemic take over your life. You need to hear that your melancholy, anxiety, and anger are valid.

Right now, you may feel like a prisoner in your own home. You may constantly worry about your health and the welfare of your loved ones. Not only that, but you’re facing an unprecedented amount of stress.

Give yourself permission to move on. Take time to say farewell to loved ones who weren't able to make it. Don’t wallow in regret over the things and privileges you’ve lost. You can‘t do anything to change the past year, so why dwell on the past?

It’s not surprising that communication and collaboration apps experienced a surge in popularity in 2020. People now connect using a variety of tools:  Zoom, Facetime, Skype, and Google Hangouts. You probably haven't seen your colleague in over a year, but you’ve likely that you’ve talked over a video call. These online channels make virtual counseling possible and convenient.

Reaching out to a counselor is now possible online. Consults are scheduled via video call sessions where you can share what's going on with your life. Together, you can process emotions that are too raw or intense to deal with alone. 

Perhaps you are now a widow or solo parent. Maybe you need to deal with the stress of hospital bills, piles of debt, and the loss of a breadwinner in the family. You may be mourning your old job or missing the act of going to the office.

Grief counseling during a pandemic can give you the chance to accept these feelings. When you talk about your innermost thoughts, it becomes easier to come to terms with everything that has transpired.

In 2020, a lot of hospitals quickly adopted telehealth programs. They needed a way to provide medical care without compromising the safety of patients or doctors. Some procedures like patient monitoring and information dissemination are done via a computer or smartphone.

According to the Mayo Clinic, telemedicine involves utilizing digital information and communication innovations to virtually access healthcare services. This method results in a reasonably good care management system.

These telehealth services may include a counseling session for grief with a professional. First, you will be asked to fill in an onboarding questionnaire about your personal information, circumstances, and feelings. This gives the medical team or practitioner an overview of your current mental state.

Telehealth programs will then schedule online sessions with a trained counselor. They will provide a guidance program during the pandemic, self-help recommendations, and coping strategies.

Apple Store and Play Store are overflowing with free and paid mental health apps. These downloadable tools provide online counseling and therapy. With these apps, you can speak or chat with a licensed online therapist in real time. 

Other apps focus on physical fitness, which is closely linked with mental health. These include workout apps that motivate you to reach your goals without stepping a foot outside your door. Aside from monitoring your physical condition, health apps can be used to plan nutritious meals, count steps, and track calories.

Hospitals reach full capacity when there’s a surge in COVID-19 cases. They can no longer accept new patients or give emergency care, even to non-COVID cases. 

In response, some medical facilities have transitioned to remote patient monitoring. It relies on devices that are installed in your home and connected to the internet. These devices transmit your data and serve as the communication line between you and your medical provider.

Remote patient monitoring plays a vital role in coping with grief because it promotes trust and transparency. Keep in mind that grief can lead to other medical conditions. Physical symptoms can indicate mental health issues. Your body is saying, “Because of grief, I have failed to get enough nourishment and rest. Now, my organs are starting to deteriorate.”

You can pretend to be ill, but your blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and other data do not lie. This physiological data provides a deeper understanding of your current state. With remote monitoring, you can be proactive about your healthcare plan.

If you can’t talk to a therapist, consider leafing through the pages of a book, magazine, or pamphlet. You can learn coping strategies for grief or even study counseling textbooks that discuss the topic in detail. 

Some people find solace and inspiration by reading novels or autobiographies. You may be able to relate to a storyline that is similar to your experience. Hopefully, you will also be encouraged by the characters. Works of fiction may also serve as a temporary escape from sadness and stress. This so-called book therapy is pretty effective.

These books may not have the happy ending you are looking for, but they provide a sense of relief and a nuanced perspective on grief. We experience grief differently, but these titles present common themes and wisdom that will help you recover.

The internet has become a ubiquitous and necessary part of life. It’s a snap to search for online articles and blog posts about mental health and counseling. Take advantage of this unlimited and affordable resource. 

You can have instant access to a myriad of information about the stages of grief, counseling methods, and self-help strategies. Having all that data and advice can put you on your way to recovery.

As you go through online articles and other resources, look for ways to memorialize a loved one. Even if you can’t hold a wake or attend a funeral, you can still pay tribute and celebrate their life. 

Consider keepsake jewelry or cremation jewelry and mementos as a way of remembering and honoring your departed loved one. Memorial jewelry can be in the form of photo engraved jewelry and fingerprint jewelry.

These telehealth services may include a counseling session for grief with a professional. First, you will be asked to fill in an onboarding questionnaire about your personal information, circumstances, and feelings. This gives the medical team or practitioner an overview of your current mental state.

Telehealth programs will then schedule online sessions with a trained counselor. They will provide a guidance program during the pandemic, self-help recommendations, and coping strategies.

Some facilities may accept a limited number of grief counseling patients on a case-to-case basis. However, they may close without prior notice if there’s a lockdown. In some areas, funerals are still permitted but with a limited number of participants.

Make sure you practice physical distancing and wear face masks at all times. It helps that funerals are held in cemeteries, as outdoor venues offer less risk of coronavirus transmission.

For now, try combining online and traditional methods. For example, you can live stream a funeral via social media or an app. 

Hospital websites usually include a public directory that lists all their doctors along with their contact information. You can browse through this directory and check the profiles of prospective counselors. Search for any of these departments: bereavement counseling, grief therapy, and crisis intervention.

Some insurance companies have updated their sites to include information on mental health resources.   If your insurance covers counseling, they will post a list of affiliated grief counselors. Contact someone from this list first so that you don’t have to pay out of pocket.

Both Android and Apple users can search for apps that provide online consultations. With a few clicks, you are all set. Your therapist will ask you to download Zoom, Facetime, or a similar app on your phone. They may choose to record your session with your consent.

Find a quiet room — Make sure it’s a place away from noise and traffic. There should be no people going in and out to distract you during the conversation. Close the door if you are having the session in your room. If you live near a noisy highway, play white noise or soothing music. Wear headphones to avoid distractions.

Be kind to yourself — Asking for help from someone other than family is perfectly all right. You are going through a rough time, and you cannot heal without support. It’s not a sign of weakness. It takes guts to acknowledge that you can no longer do it on your own.

Take deep breaths — As you share your thoughts and fears, you may start to hyperventilate or experience a tight sensation in your chest. You may find yourself bursting into tears or choked up. These sensations are normal. Just take deep, slow breaths. Pause whenever necessary. 

Do some yoga and stretching before the session — As much as possible, you need to calm yourself and get control of your emotions. Yoga and slow physical exercise can lessen the tension and help you relax.

Have a glass of water nearby — The opening session is always the hardest. It can be quite overwhelming. Once you open the floodgates of your emotions, sometimes there's no turning back. Getting hydration during the process will make it easier to speak.

Give a heads-up — This is important if you are living with family or friends. You have to inform them that you need solitude at certain dates and times. You don't necessarily have to share that the meeting is with a grief counselor. Ask them to respect your privacy.

Keep a journal or logbook - Jot down your thoughts, things that bother you, and any questions that you may have. Having a written record can make the session more productive. It also makes the counseling session more engaging.

People often complain of Zoom fatigue, but this app has made it possible to do a lot of things remotely. While back-to-back meetings can be tiring, an occasional video call can be a lifeline. Instead of having a traditional funeral, schedule a video meetup with your loved ones and friends.

You can also check how everyone is coping with their grief and share coping strategies. Seeing familiar faces who share the same loss is hugely comforting. While it won’t completely replace a warm hug, seeing these beloved faces and hearing them talk can be uplifting.

Jewelry made from ashes and keepsake jewelry 2021 has increasingly become popular. Now more than ever, bereaved families would want something beautiful to hold on to after the death of their loved ones.

Another option is having photo engraved jewelry or fingerprint jewelry made. Having a tangible reminder of the person you lost can soothe the heartache. Photo engraved jewelry for grief can help you cope with the loss and bring some comfort.

One way to break the loop of negative thoughts is to think of ways to assist other people. Aside from buying memento more for yourself, why not commission cremation jewelry for your family? You can also customize cremation keepsake jewelry with a different design as gifts to close friends.

Why not make it a group effort? Enlist your family in researching designs and options for memorial jewelry and jewelry for ashes. Then, decide which one to adapt and wear.

An online memorial is an internet space dedicated to your deceased loved one. Similar to a newspaper obituary, it presents information and essential facets of the person's life. These may include professional achievements, photos, and affiliations shared on an online repository. Access is provided to family, friends, and colleagues.

You can even upload pictures of you wearing your keepsake jewelry for family and friends. It might even encourage them to commission their own pieces.