Times are changing as the world goes through a pandemic that has upended public life as we know it. With each passing day, worry and dread hang in the air as the news keep flooding in with updates of numbers and cases. As governments and countries start enacting stringent measures, social distancing and staying at home has become the default way of life as of now. It goes without saying that everyone’s anxiety continues to bubble and grow. This is made worse by the fact that there is no concrete solution or formula to deal with a pandemic. Nobody knows what will happen. Nobody knows who they might lose next.
During such times of major upheavals, it may seem close to impossible to deal with emotions and stress. After all, when your life’s daily routine has been completely shaken up and modified to revolve around what ifs, you will bound to feel unanchored and ungrounded. You might even feel a sense of helplessness and hopelessness, due to the constant stream of bleak reporting across the world. If you happened to be confined to staying at home during this period, you are more likely to feel distressed. The effects of quarantine on one’s mental health can be quite serious and severe. Humans are uniquely social beings. Being put into circumstances of isolation will induce emotional distress and intensify feelings of loneliness in relation to despair. Not to mention, by feeling cut off from the rest of the world, you will feel like you have no control over your own situation.
However, there are ways for you to alleviate your own stress and grief response. One way to overcome and adapt with the overwhelming amount of changes is to set down your own structures. Finding your own routine can create a semblance of constancy, which will enable you to feel anchored and in control of the situation. It can be as simple as writing down a list of things you have to accomplish each day.
Being in a lockdown also means that dealing with loss and trauma comes with more restrictions than before. The usual methods to gain closure, be it through funerals or burial ceremonies, is no longer possible. You might not even get a chance to see your loved one’s body for the sake of your personal health and safety. How then can you process such grief? The healthiest way is to experience the emotions in waves. During these trying times, it is crucial to communicate. Perhaps you can work from home, giving yourself something to do and keep your routine intact. You could also seek support systems over the phone or the Internet. There are plenty of online therapy and resources if you need to consult a professional.
At Embrace Funeral Services, we work closely with family members to carry out funeral services in Singapore. Grieve and process your emotions appropriately without stress as we assist with funeral preparations. In addition, we offer bereavement support to friends and family that require it.