2020: The Year of Grief and Anxiety
When a new decade rolled around, none of us could have imagined what 2020 would have in store. Staying up until midnight on New Year’s Eve with loved ones, as we all eagerly embraced “the new year, new me” mentality. I think we can all agree that it did not take long for 2020 to hit us square in the face with feelings of uncertainty, fear, and disappointment. As a society, we are navigating a ‘ronacoaster’ of emotions that feel both confusing and exhausting. While all of our journeys are unique, we have each experienced some form of loss this year. So how do we navigate the grief and anxiety that comes with this loss?
Acknowledge
Let’s take a moment to recognize the collective disappointment that is this year. Maybe that loss looked like missing graduation, not being able to attend a wedding or funeral, being furloughed from work, having to transition to online classes, or being isolated and quarantined from the people you love and care about most. To move through the discomfort of grief and anxiety, we must first recognize that it is there.
Allow
What if we let those feelings be there? What if instead of numbing, avoiding, and fighting these feelings, we simply stayed with them. These feelings are real and they matter. By allowing our feelings to be present exactly as they are, we can validate how they are affecting our lives. Staying with these feelings takes practice. Here are some examples of ways to be present with what you are feeling:
Yoga
Meditation/mindfulness
Journaling or drawing
Going on a walk or run
Connecting with a loved one
Grounding exercises
Listening to music
Deep belly breaths
Create Compassion
When we experience uncomfortable emotions, it can feel easy to jump into a space of judgment. Engaging in negative self-talk and invalidating ourselves is often what we do best. These judgment statements, lead to more harm than good. Creating compassion takes practice. Start with creating space for all parts of you are (flaws and all). The feelings you are experiencing are normal and make so much sense in the context of what you are experiencing. Healthy practices for creating compassion can look like:
Not calling yourself names
Reflecting on your achievements and growth (big and small)
Honoring your feelings by meeting a need you have
Be mindful of your inner dialogue and self-talk
None of us have experienced what we are all experiencing in the world right now. If you are suffering, if you are in pain, if you feel sad, I see you. And you are not alone.
If you are interested in exploring the grief and anxiety that has come with 2020, I would be honored to help you through your journey of healing and discovering healthy coping practices. Please contact Resolve or book an appointment online if you are interested in counseling services.