Your world has been torn apart by the death of a loved one. At the same time, this world has gone crazy. Isolation rules the day. Everyone is talking about the pandemic and we’re all sheltering in place. You can’t even grieve with anyone.
Isolation.
At a time when you need so much support and comfort, isolation is the rule. You want to retreat into yourself and it seems the world does as well. What do you do?
- Breathe
- Reach out
- Make phone call to a loved one
- Text someone
- Answer the phone or reply to a text
Or, maybe you are a year out from the initial death and all those firsts are hitting. The first anniversary, the first holiday without your spouse, the first birthday, etc. and you can’t go anywhere to process the day. You have to stay in your house. What do you do?
- Pull out a picture album
- Light a candle in memory of
- Celebrate the day – make a favorite dish, listen to comforting music
- Share memories about your loved one via Facebook, Zoom or other technologies
- Click to see Teresa and Jeni’s one year stories
- Click to see our blog about handling the “firsts”
Maybe you are in a different stage of your grief and this is hitting you as our world is facing this pandemic situation. How do you cope?
- Journal your feelings
- Draw or paint your feelings
- Maintain a routine – get up, get dressed,
- Get some exercise & fresh air – 30min outside in the sun can do wonders
As our world is facing the COVID19 crisis, we are all facing spending Easter or Passover in our homes alone instead of with our families.Isolation adds a new dimension to our grief journeys. We won’t be sitting around the table with our families or may not be able to attend funerals or memorial services for those we loved and lost.
Families are being denied the last moments with family members as they can no longer visit in the hospitals. How do we handle this?
So…
How do we cope?
How do we handle the fear that is stretching across the world as we are processing our loss?
Social Distancing has become the topic of late. We prefer to use the term “physical distancing” as we learn new ways to be social. We have turned to technology to try to meet most of our needs. Yet, technology does not provide us with the hugs and other types of in person comfort that only physical closeness brings.
At this time of year, we would normally be writing about how to handle the family gathering. We too are at a loss of how to respond and what to do. We’re each dealing with this our own ways. However, we can only offer our tips on ways that we are coping with it ourselves and provide reminders that you are not in this alone. We are here and we welcome you to reach out to us and let us know how we can help through this blog.
Grief tips
- Know that your journey is unique as you are. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. Click here for our Twisted Widow Journey for more details.
- There are stages to grief. We call them a journey and you are perfectly normal having feelings all over the place in grief.
- Breathing….keep breathing. It may be all you can do. Take life one minute at a time until you can handle more.
- Doing deep breathing and breathe work can be very supportive
- Keep yourself as healthy as you can.
- Eat well & Drink Water
- Sleep
Self Care tips & Stress Management
- Meditation and prayer
- Write or draw in a journal
- Take deep slow breaths
- Have a quiet reflection time booked into your schedule
- Talk to a friend, spiritual advisor, coach or therapist
- Someone who is a good listener and positive influence
- Garden
- Walk in nature
- Paint/dance/listen to music
- 15 Tips for Coping with Stress When the World’s Out of Control by Teresa
Essential Oils that may help with grief (we use Young Living oils)
- Bergamot
- Gratitude
- Journey On
- Joy
- Lavender
- Peace & Calming
- Patchouli
- Stress away
- Valor
- White Angelica
- Ylang Ylang
For more information on oils, please see our blogs on this topic
For more information on oils, click here or contact us and we will help you.
Help – When to Ask & Where to Find Help
Thoughts of suicide – Get help immediately –
- Call 911 or the US. National suicide hotline 1-800-273-8255
We want you to know that you may be in isolation but you are not alone. We will all get through this together and will come out with a new normal. The world is moving in a new direction just as your life has changed direction. Right now, we don’t know what new normal will look like, but we have to go through this journey together even when we are alone. We will be here for you and welcome you to reach out to us and let us know what you would like us to write about in this very unprecedented time. May Peace and Blessings surround all of us and take us to a better time.
Please comment and share your experiences. If you have resources please share with our community.
Peace, Blessings & Love,
Teresa & Jeni
