The Pain of Grief: Unfortunately “a Certainty”
Grief. It brings stress and stress can aggravate already existing symptoms, or bring on new ones. It can lead to not only complicated grief and major depressive disorder, but aches and pains, high blood pressure, headaches, sleep issues, dizziness, stomach problems, and a weakened immune system. Few of us are taught how to cope with grief, although some cultures do try to celebrate a deceased loved, for example Día de los Muertos.
Although grieving takes many shapes, according to Dr. Regina Josell, a clinical psychologist, there are similarities, and physical symptoms can be experienced along with the sense of loss. Michelle Saenz, a licensed professional associate and mental health clinician, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, who was interviewed about celebrations of the dead, commented, “We have lost the grieving process and it has been very difficult on people’s mental health. Because of that, I think there needs to be more discussion on how to grieve, and (on) mental health in general…because COVID has left a lot of heartache.”
