Social Impact LIVE: Loss and Grief During the Coronavirus Pandemic

As the coronavirus epidemic sweeps the globe, many of us have grown anxious about life and death issues. We are struggling with existential losses, and, as the death toll mounts, with the loss of loved ones to the virus.
In this episode of Social Impact LIVE, host Richard Hara sits down with Dr. Katherine Shear, the Marion E. Kenworthy Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia School of Social Work and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, to discuss strategies for processing our losses and handling our grief, especially in light of the disruption to grief support systems and postponement of funeral rites. Dr. Shear is a world expert on grief and the founding director of the Center on Complicated Grief within the School of Social Work.

[@user-zz3kc5dl9y]

💐💐💐 People all around the world not only face with covid-19 , but also face with its consequences such as : stressors , trauma, PTSD, melancholic depression, suicidal thoughts , hopelessness, jobless , complicated grief , mental health crisis risks.
WHO & WPA & WB should play its important role to resolve these issues as soon as possible.

[@RobinDonnelly1208]

I was hit with several losses and physical health issues. Also I was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida and I have found my everyday life becomes more difficult the older I become. I have never been able to process each loss before being hit with another one. I was left by my bf of seven years and who I loved with all of my heart and I was very close to his family as well. That loss to me came out of the blue, with discussion, no chance on working on the relationship or trying again and I was also never given the chance to say goodbye to his family. I was devastated as I was certain this relationship was going to last until one of dies. As I was trying to cope with loss, my son who was living in FL along with his 2 and a half year old, my first grandchild was video chatting with them on my birthday and my son suggested that I move FL to be closer to him and my grandson. It would be a chance for me to "start over" and to be closer to them and he would be able to help me more. Both of us were feeling much more positive with this prospect. Two nights later I was out to dinner with the rest of my family to celebrate my birthday. Within minutes after coming home I got a phone call from the FL police to inform me that my son had died that night. It was totally sudden and unexpected it sent me into a tailspin. Not only was my son gone but all the plans we had made were now no longer possible. I felt like my future died with him. Three weeks later I lost my stepdad after a long illness. About a month later I suffered a stroke. Then the covid virus came along and all of a sudden I was no longer able to have company and thus I was left to deal with all of this completely alone. I fell into a deep depression where I would go for days without getting out of bed. I virtually stopped eating as I had no appetite. I was consumed with grief over the death of my son and honestly just wanted to go and be where he was. It was only because of my daughter that I didn't become suicidal. I didn't want to cause her any more pain than she was already feeling. It got the point where I was either crying uncontrollably or sleeping. Sleeping was a way to stay physically alive but not have to deal with my unbearable pain. And that was where I got "stuck" and continue to stay stuck in that mode.Life means nothing but pain to me now and I honestly do not know how to get "unstuck" or if that is even possible for me anymore. My PCP has recently doubled the dosage of my Effexor and That has helped me somewhat. At least I am getting out of bed most days, but I still feel completely lost and hopeless. I have lost touch with my therapist who I have been seeing on and of for over 20 years after this quarantine started. My mother and brother who live next door pretty much refuse to talk about Patrick and his death. I feel like I literally have nowhere to go, no one to turn to, utterly alone and the thought of my own death is the only thing that feels comforting to me. Do you have any suggestions of what I might be able to do to feel better in the wake of this isolation period? Sorry for the extremely long post but after watching this video I felt like MAYBE there was a chance that someone can help me, even though I still feel hopeless and helpless and virtually just trying to keep breathing.

[@melistasy]

Awww Robin, I wish I can give you a hug and take you out to ger your mind off the pain you're feeling. I cannot imagine but I understand a little of how you feel. I lost my mom and I've been in that same place you are/were, just wanting to be where she is and sleeping away the pain. I am functioning better these days but feel hopeless about my future.
I hope you are doing better these days and I hope you've received some help and support. No one should have to go through what you're going through alone. Please stay strong and find ways to pass the time. Be well🙏🏾