As we begin to transition from the response phase of the Covid-19 Pandemic into the recovery phase, many people are beginning to ask, "What happens next?" Although no one can predict the impact that future Covid variants may have, one thing I can predict with confidence is that we will begin to experience the delayed effects of the psychological and emotional distress caused by the Pandemic. Although the medically frail and elderly were at the greatest risk of serious illness and death, no one has escaped the widespread unintended consequences resulting from the isolation and lockdowns implemented during the Pandemic.

School closures affected students of all ages, work closures had devastating impacts on small businesses and working class families and several studies have shown increased rates of depression, anxiety and drug overdoses during the pandemic. When we add this to the nearly 1 million people who died during the pandemic, virtually everyone was impacted in one way or another. The grief response is how people recover from these types of losses and may typically involve a wide variety of feelings ranging from emotional numbness to anger. People may also experience physical changes such as weakness, trembling, loss of appetite and difficultly sleeping. Although some people may cope very well following loss, it is more common to experience some degree of emotional and spiritual distress.

There is no "normal" length of time it takes to complete the grieving process. Grieving is a very individual experience that is influenced by a wide variety of factors. The grieving process is different for each person but typically begins with a deep sense of sadness, which at first may feel overwhelming. In normal grieving, over time the sadness slowly becomes less intense and is later associated with a sense of resolution and acceptance. For most people the grieving process will be slow and gradual. Feeling sadness a year after the loss of a loved one is quite normal, especially for those married for many years. Occasionally, normal grieving can be complicated by clinical depression that may warrant medical evaluation and treatment. If you are experiencing severe and disabling symptoms such as depression, sleep or appetite disturbance or difficulty coping that is not improving over time, I advise you to consult with your physician.

If you know of someone who has lost a loved one during the Covid pandemic, please let him or her know that Hospice of the Valleys provides grief support through various community support groups at no cost. If you would like more information about our bereavement support services, please check us out on the web at www.hospiceofthevalleys.org or contact our bereavement department during regular office hours, 8:30am - 4:30 pm, M-F at 951-200-7800 and a member of our bereavement team will be happy to assist you in finding the most appropriate type of support for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of help to you or someone you know who has lost a loved one during the Covid-19 Pandemic.