Are you filled with a constant sense of unease and at times overwhelming despair? You’re not alone.

All over the country and the world, people are feeling the same way. The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down and plunged us all into a permanent state of mourning for what we have lost.

COVID-19 has taken so much from all of us, and not just in the sense of losing a loved one. The virus has stolen school from our children, graduation ceremonies from our students. It has delayed celebrations, weddings and even funerals, taken away the jobs of so many and the dreams of others; but most of all it has stolen our sense of safety and wellbeing and the comfort we used to take in the belief that we could predict the dangers that lay ahead of us.

Perhaps you have lost someone dear to you, or you just can’t shake an all-consuming sense of loss for those who have. The tragic loss of thousands of lives that have ended and will end before we see the end of this pandemic.

What to Do When the Coronavirus Pandemic’s Getting You Down?

We’re here to tell you it’s okay to feel uncomfortable, or even to accept that you don’t know how to feel. You aren’t losing your mind. Grief is useful, it’s how we are able to move on from our losses.

In the same way that you shouldn’t run from grief but rather deal with it, there are things you can do to relieve the suffering that goes along with it. We are living in uncertain times and it’s only natural that you feel like you do. Try these 10 tips to make things a little easier:

  • Accept that some things are out of your control
  • Focus on what you can control i.e. wearing a mask, washing your hands, etc.
  • Take care of yourself – eat, sleep, and stay hydrated
  • Stop trying to make the feelings go away, you’ll reach acceptance eventually
  • Talk about your feelings with family and friends; Talk to us
  • Reach out to a counsellor or religious minister for help
  • Try to get some exercise and fresh air
  • See if there’s any way you can help others in your area
  • Contact friends and family online or over the phone just to chat
  • Learn how to use mindfulness or meditation to restore calm

Sadly, there’s no magic wand that can take away your grief at losing a loved one or the feelings of despair that might occasionally overwhelm you during these changed times. Try some of these tips every day and while they won’t make your troubles disappear, they will at least help you to learn how to cope better while things aren’t okay.

You’ll be taking back a degree of control over your feelings.

One day at a time.

A Rainbow Nation Remembers

Right now, as a nation, we mourn the loss of all those who have been taken from us as a result of COVID-19, and the loneliness of their grieving families, friends and colleagues.

We also grieve the loss of life as we once knew it, as well as the uncertainties of everyday life, but this one day shall pass.

Take courage in the fact that, in time to come, the coronavirus pandemic will be nothing more than an awful memory. Then, as a nation, we will need to remember how we worked together to overcome the greatest threat of our time.