A Message From Megan About The COVID-19 Crisis:
As COVID-19 continues to impact our world and culture, we are acutely aware of the far reaching effects on… everyone, everywhere. From folks grieving the loss of someone to the virus, to those who were grieving before the coronavirus outbreak, to the rolling impact of changes in funerals, memorials, and the process of dying itself, no aspect of life is untouched.
For those of us on the front lines of grief work, the incoming wave of grief we see coming is unfathomable.
Within our RIG community, the spread of the virus has brought up all kinds of emotions as existing grief mixes with new stressors, loss of support, and concerns for the future. Whatever you’re feeling, please know that you’re normal. If you’re feeling especially overwhelmed, go back to the basics of self care: eat, drink water, rest, and take breaks. You can also check this page for more ideas.
Grief can be lonely in the best of times (read: when the rest of the world hasn’t gone sideways). Social distancing is our best shot at slowing the spread of COVID-19, and being at home can increase your loneliness.
If you’re feeling more isolated, please reach out and connect. You can always find connection and validation on our social media channels – you’ll find lots of folks just like you. Our Writing Your Grief community is open for the next session, too. If you’re feeling alone and need support, please join us. Connection makes the unbearable just a little easier to bear.
For many, the coronavirus has caused a huge spike in their anxiety levels. If you’ve already lost someone, it’s easy to fall into an anxiety spiral about losing more people. You can’t just talk yourself out of your fears. To help you navigate your anxiety (and understand how it intersects with your grief), Sounds True and I pulled the chapter on anxiety from my book, It’s OK That You’re Not OK, and made it into a free PDF. You can download it here. If you’re struggling with anxiety, look through the chapter for ways to soothe your mind. I hope you find it useful.
For additional anxiety support, there are some basic grounding tools here. I also like Dan Harris’ Ten Percent Happier CV-related meditations. If you’re struggling with miscarriage or infertility during this crisis, check out Dr. Jessica Zucker’s insta page – she’s addressing these things with her usual insight and skill. If you’re unsure how to manage funerals in the age of corona, look to the Order of the Good Death for best practices as the parameters change.
My team and I are looking at more ways to provide support as the effects of coronavirus unfold. We’ll add resources to this page as we have them. For now, please know we’re here with you, as always. One hour, one moment, at a time.
With love,
Megan
Oh, and one more thing – the stresses of this time period can increase depression and anxiety, which could result in increased suicidality and self harm. Check our suicide resources here, and find your local support line access here. Reach out, find help.