Five Simple Ways to Cope With Your Sadness Over Covid-19

The sadness we’re all feeling is profound

Now that the Covid-19 pandemic is in full-swing, a lot of people have been breaking down and crying these days, and these are people who don’t make a habit out of shedding tears. But their grief is real, and they’ve been weeping more in the past few weeks than possibly in their entire lives.

Many of us are feeling profoundly sad right now, and I wanted to talk about why this is and what we can do about it. There are so many reasons to feel upset, right now. We’re worried about our health and anxious about our loved ones; we’re nervous about our finances and about the economic survival of our community and our nation.

And many of us are just plain sad. It hurts to think about how many people have been getting sick, how many have died and how many still are going to die. It’s painful to be cooped up at home, not able to be with our family and friends. It’s scary, lonely and frustrating and it makes us really sad.

We’re feeling lost and adrift

It’s painful to imagine what will happen to our local small businesses, and to the people who have worked in our communities for many years. It’s upsetting to think that all the money people have invested has gone up in smoke. It’s tragic to think of everyone who was living from paycheck to paycheck and who now faces a financial crisis as well. The sense of loss is profound. The sense of uncertainty is chilling.

The situation we’re in is something that few living people have experienced. The closest approximation was the Second World War and that ended 75 years ago. Everyone born after 1945 has nothing with which to compare this current crisis. And even during the war, people banded together and that gave them strength. Now, many of us are literally going through it alone.

We’re feeling lost and adrift. We aren’t sure how long this is all going to last or what life will be like, on the other side. We’re lonely and we’re scared. Many people are feeling overwhelmed, but just as many of us are feeling profoundly sad.

Many have suffered; more pain is coming

I’m grieving for all those who have succumbed to the illness. I’m heart-broken for their families and friends. I’m sad for the health care workers who, aside from all the sacrifices they’re already making to care for the sick, are now sleeping alone in their cars or wherever they can find so as not to risk infecting their family members. I’m upset that there aren’t enough ventilators in some locations and not enough protective gear for health care workers in many others.

I’m sad for all the small business owners who won’t make it through the pandemic. I’m sad for the communities that will be deprived of all the goods and services these businesses had to offer.

I’m sad for the occupants of nursing homes who are waiting for the virus to pick them off like sitting ducks. I’m sad for the poor and disenfranchised who’ve gone from incredibly difficult living situations a few months ago to downright impossible ones today.

I’m sad for all the victims of domestic abuse who are trapped at home with their abusers. I’m sad for the people imprisoned on minor charges who are now risking death from Covid-19 for having committed a misdemeanor.

I’m sad for all the people who’ve lost their jobs and who may never be rehired. I’m sad for all the essential workers who risk their lives every day in order to keep our society running.

I’m sure I’m not alone in my sadness. Anyone who has an ounce of compassion can’t help but be moved to tears. So what can we all do to avoid being overwhelmed by these feelings? How can we acknowledge our sadness without being brought down by it? The answer is simple.

Here are five simple ways to help you cope with the profound sense of sadness you’re feeling.

1. Feel it but don’t drown in it. Open your heart and allow yourself to feel your sadness. Take the time to release your feelings through crying. Tears aren’t a sign of weakness; they’re a healthy way of letting go. After a good cry, everyone feels refreshed and more hopeful. Crying is cleansing. But at the same time, you should believe in your own strength and resilience and know that despite being sad, you’re also strong and you can get through this difficult time.

2. Reach out for support – both personal and professional. When you’re sad it’s a great comfort to share your feelings with someone who cares. Unburdening yourself to a friend, a family member or a mental health professional can really make a difference, as long as they’re supportive and they don’t try to minimize your experience or shut down your feelings.

3. Tap into your creativity. Being creative in whatever form it takes is a great outlet for all your emotions. Whether you’re feeling sad or anxious, angry or frustrated, channeling your feelings into a creative project will be empowering and uplifting. And if you share your art with others, it can make them feel better, too. You can also join forces with other people and do a creative project together. That will generate lot of joy in these sad times.

4. Exercise. Stretching, strengthening and doing cardio will help you move the painful feelings out of your body. Exercise releases feel-good chemicals called “endorphins” and it boosts both your immune system and your mood.

5. Help others. Doing good things for other people is a great way to lessen your grief. Being there for others always brings happiness, and taking concrete action on behalf of others in the face of all the upsetting things happening these days is a great way to lift your mood.

These are challenging times and it’s not surprising that people are feeling scared, sad and even frustrated. Please take advantage of my five tips for dealing with the sadness you’re feeling, right now.

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