GRIEF
GRIEF
GRIEF
More than an emotion, grief is a process
-- a way to express things we feel when we respond to loss (death of a loved one, the loss of a job, loss of a relationship, loss of a sense of security, etc.).
Grief is normal for people of all ages and is different for everyone. While there are common phases in grief (anger, denial, acceptance, etc), there is no predictable pattern of stages or time limit for grief. Grieving is healthy and necessary to heal from loss.
Grief amid the stress of the current pandemic would be very understandable. We may see grief in young children coming out in the form of behaviors like defiance, difficulty sleeping, acting out, changes in eating habits, loss of interest in things they use to enjoy, increased arguments with friends. There is a lot of scary content on news outlets right now, and grown-ups are having to have very serious conversations. Even when it doesn't seem children are aware of these influences, they are often soaking in all of the emotions. Children's grief often comes out sideways; through odd behavior rather than tears.
Grief often causes tweens and teens to withdraw. Especially in cultures where showing emotion is viewed as weakness or immaturity, grieving youth in these ages tend to become reclusive and angry.
Grief takes many forms for adults. The pandemic may cause feelings of profound instability and fear, put serious strain on relationships, complicate struggles that were in place before the virus (such as addiction, chronic illness, financial struggles, etc.). These intense grief experiences may lead to anger and at other times to deep sorrow or worry. Regardless of age, grief and its varied expressions are normal, but it is critical to name one's grief and do the work of moving through it, so as not to become emotionally stuck in the grief process.
