What is Grief?

Grief is the response to loss of someone or something to which a person has an emotional attachment or bond. Grief impacts our physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social, cultural, social, spiritual, and philosophical well-being. Grief does NOT only occur in response to the death/loss of a loved one but also to an event that creates a sense of loss of the way things once were. For example, becoming disabled, losing a job, and in our current case the inability to attend school for our students and staff. While this situation has triggered anxiety and grief in many it is normal to experience grief in our circumstances.

Stages of Grief

These are the common stages of grief and do not occur in any specific order and many may experience several stages at a time:

• Denial-this is a stage of shock/disbelief, a feeling of unrealness, often described as dreamlike or hazy. This stage occurs as the brains response to such overwhelming information that the brain releases hormones to blur the experience and process the information.

  • Symptoms: Avoidance, Confusion, Shock, Fear

• Anger-As we leave the denial stage and become more aware of the loss we redirect the pain in the form of anger. In relation to the effects of the pandemic this may be asking things like, "How could something like this happen?"

  • Symptoms: Frustration, Irritation, Anxiety

• Bargaining-This stage can be associated to guilt. During this stage the belief is that something could have been done differently. For example, wondering, "What if?"

  • Symptoms: Struggling to find meaning

• Depression-Feeling like the situation is too much and too overwhelming.

  • Symptoms: Overwhelmed, Helplessness, Hostility, Suicidal thoughts

• Acceptance-Making peace in the sense that you are going to be okay. This is something you CAN live with. There are good and bad days.

  • Symptoms: Exploring options, New plan in place, Moving on

Everyone grieves differently. There is no set time frame and no right or wrong way to grieve. Children will grieve based on their developmental level.

Other symptoms to be aware of include: crying, headaches, difficulty sleeping, questioning the purpose of life and spiritual beliefs, feeling detached, isolating, abnormal behavior, fatigue, loss of appetite, and aches and pains.

What can you do about it:

It's important to remember to be kind to yourself and allow time to work through each stage. This is a normal reaction to loss and YES, this pandemic is leading to many people feeling loss.

• Take Care of Yourself

• Find Support

• Treat Yourself With Love and Kindness

• Know Your Limits and Take Breaks

• Focus on the Positive

• Distract Yourself

• Try Helping Someone in Need

• Express and Release Emotions

• Talk about it