Loss of Control: A Common Grief During a Pandemic

Among the many losses many people are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of control seems to be a major stressor in the lives of many people. For some people having control in a given situation equates to managing expectations and outcomes in their lives.

When a global pandemic breaks out, the ability to manage expectations and outcomes goes completely out of the window which brings about a lot of stress and anxiety for many people. Though the unknowns can be daunting, it is possible to deal with the loss of control brought on by a pandemic in a healthy way.

Express Yourself

It’s normal to feel anxious, scared, or angry during this time. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much in our lives, much of it in negative ways. Thus, feelings that may be negative are completely okay to feel and you should give yourself permission to feel and express those feelings.

Having some sort of outlet, whether talking to a friend or journaling it out, will help you process how you feel and release it so that you can move forward.

Shift Focus

The best way to cope with a loss of control is to focus on what you can control. There is so much we don’t know when it comes to this pandemic - how long it will be, what the economic impacts will be, or when life will go back to normal, and the list could go on and on.

Rather than spending the majority of our time stressing about things we cannot control, we should spend the majority of our time focusing on those things we do have control over. This helps us manage our anxiety and avoid getting lost in a sea of unknowns.

Remain Hopeful

It can be easy to give in to hopelessness when faced with a situation that seems like it will never end. However, remaining hopeful is key to coping during a pandemic. Solely focusing on those things, we cannot control will foster feelings of hopelessness and sorrow.

However, we must remember that this pandemic will not last forever. Keeping that at the forefront of our minds helps us to maintain a positive perspective that will help us push through each day.

Be Thankful

When there are so many negatives attached to the COVID-19 pandemic, finding something to be thankful for can pose somewhat of a challenge. However, gratitude is a very practical way to manage loss of control and the stress, anxiety, and panic it can induce.

When we are intentional about focusing on those things we are grateful for, we shift from a negative focus on what we can’t control to a positive focus on those things that bring us joy and gratitude. This can go a long way in boosting spirits and attitudes during such a stressful time.

We are all working to find a way to deal with the impact of this pandemic on our lives. The new normal this has created and the lack of control we all realize now exists presents a unique set of challenges and hardships.

But as we strive to process how we feel, by taking actions such as remaining positive, focusing on the blessings we have in our lives and remaining hopeful that this pandemic will one day come to an end we can better cope with this common grief and make life more bearable one day at a time.

What's the Difference Between

Anxiety & Panic Attacks?

Download our free printable workbook with writing prompts that will help you learn the difference between worrying & anxiety disorders, how to control your anxiety symptoms & how to speak to loved ones to get the help you need.