I accepted a lot of sad news this past week. One of my beloved friends and family passed away due to COVID-19. It was wildly shaking my heart, and it turns out that accepting death, especially that of a loved one, could be difficult like I never imagined before. Losing someone close to you can be one of the most difficult challenges you face in life. The grieving process is different for everyone. Each person may have different reactions and cope in different ways than others. 

It is important to grieve, to accept death and move forward with your life in the present. But I realized that grief could be managed through coping skills and support from family and friends—especially during COVID-19. There are healthy ways to cope with the pain that, in time, can ease your sadness and help you come to terms with your loss, find new meaning, and eventually move on with your life.

The grieving process

Grieving is a highly individual experience; there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and how significant the loss was to you.

Inevitably, the grieving process takes time. Healing happens gradually; it can’t be forced or hurried—and there is no “normal” timetable for grieving. Some people start to feel better in weeks or months. For others, the grieving process is measured in years. Whatever your grief experience, it’s essential to be patient with yourself and allow the process to unfold naturally.

Get emotional support

Everyone connects to other people, and everyone needs those connections, especially when you are grieving. When it comes to the grieving process, there are times you will want to be left alone, and it is okay. 

Everyone needs emotional support. However, levels of emotional support required for one person are not the same for another, even if the situation or circumstances are similar. 

We all grieve and process our emotions differently. However, emotional support is proven beneficial to an individual during times of grief. If you are experiencing grief, be open to the support and comfort provided by others. Allow yourself an openness so that others can be of emotional support to you.

Saying goodbye in different ways

In your own time, find yourself a quiet place to be alone and say your goodbyes. Say what you wanted to say to them as if they were still there. Where and how don’t really matter because the goodbye is a conversation you have in your heart. 

We may be able to pass messages on to them or photographs, letters, or religious tokens. It’s those small things that are a piece of yourself. 

And as long as there's a piece of yourself, then you are there, and that's important for managing your anxiety and your grief.