Author: Mona Klausing
The loss of a loved one is something that nearly everyone will be affected by at some time in their life. It’s one of the few universal aspects of the human experience. And yet, each person grieves in their own way. For some, the rituals around death and dying, as well as the memorials and celebrations of life, are important actions and events that can help give families a sense support and closure.
Terminal illness and death during the global pandemic has made it nearly impossible to enact some of the rituals that can give comfort. The freedom to visit our gravely ill friends and families has been sharply curbed due to the fear of community spread of the virus. In-person wakes, memorials and funerals have been replaced by remote, live-streamed services. The ability to comfort the families physically during their time of loss – to hug them, to grieve alongside them – is not possible in the same way as it once was.
During this time, I, along with so many others have lost family members and friends to COVID-19 as well as to other natural and tragic causes of death – violence, accidents, illness. I feel for your loss at this difficult time and hope you can get the support you need.
For those of you seeking solace beyond your friend and family circles, you can reach out to therapists and clinics that provide grief support. One agency in San Diego that offers free services is Elizabeth Hospice which runs grief support groups. You can also contact me directly to see if I personally have any appointment openings, or get scheduled through my non-profit counseling center, NISD Counseling, which is providing tele-therapy (over video) for clients anywhere in California during the pandemic.
