Joanne Koegl, Marriage, Family Therapist

Listen to my podcast where I talk about my personal experience with Covid and help on how to navigate grief and loss.

Good article on the collective grief most of us are trying to work through. https://www.wellandgood.com/ grief-debt/amp/

Great article from a teen @Teen Line on how many teens are suffering mentally with the pandemic. All our lives have been interrupted, I wish for everyone to receive their vaccine when it is your time. This pandemic has not only devastated physically but also mentally in unknown numbers. Everyday call someone just to let them know you care. #MarkedByCOVID #griefandlosstherapist

Dr. Bergman’s story is so tragic but sadly of one many children, young adults dying from fentanyl overdose. The pandemic has had many home bored, spending more time getting into websites that entice young curiosity and experimentation. Please be aware of what is available on social media. He ordered online to have Xanex ( a controlled substance, a benzodiazepine) delivered to his home. The pill was laced with the often fatal fentanyl and he was unaware. The deaths through fentanyl are climbing exponentially and we need to be proactive. He, like others had a whole life ahead of him.

I am grateful that Anderson Cooper took a moment to address the losses of 2020. Society has always shied away when loss and grief happens but this year we have been forced to face it more then ever. The more we talk about it the less you feel alone. We are all thinking about it just by watching the news. In talking our feelings we feel less alone and the fear is not as great. I know I had lots of support through texts and social media which meant the world to me but phone ca...lls were few because people just don’t know what to say. It’s nobodies fault other then the taboo we have been raised with on death. You aren’t expected to fix anything, it’s not contagious, it’s uncomfortable, but acknowledging the loss, helps immensely the grieving process. With Covid it has been exceptionally harder on the families of the lost loved ones because there were no visits to the hospital, no in person goodbyes, no comforting hugs from family and friends, no services or forced to have virtual services, the pain and anger felt from the naysayers, and especially after 10 months California is seeing the highest numbers of illness and deaths due to this virus. When one has experienced certain challenges in our lives, we are much more empathic, we walk the walk. Anderson said what so many of us were feeling especially sharing about his father. Dismally, we still have some time to deal with Covid and the ramifications on mental health are great. Our healthcare workers are on auto pilot but I see a deluge of battle fatigue in the coming months. If you have suffered loss, please turn to someone that understands. If you are a friend that knows of someone that has had loss, let them know you care... a simple hello, drop off a card, flowers, a meal, etc. Connection and hugs are the best but unfortunately we can’t do it now which complicates this grief more. Let’s be here for each other #grieftherapist #pasadenatherapist #markedbycovid #covidgrief #youarenotalone.

Thank you Super Mamas (Bricia and Paulina) for having me talk on your Podcast about the grief and loss we are collectively feeling with COVID-19. Grief is not a subject we like to talk about but right now we all are experiencing so many feelings that are difficult to put into words. It’s important to normalize loss and the importance of grieving for our physical and mental health. #pasadenatherapist #covid #grief #loss #weareinittogether #talktherapy #stagesofgrief #mentalhealth #supermamas Listen on #Spotify #itunes or wherever you find your podcasts

I so agree with this article. Enough pressure with obtaining!! Everyone grieves differently and being gentle with yourself is most important. Stay home. Stay well!

SURVIVING MANY LOSSES DURING COVID-19 As I try to navigate this uncertain time in our lives I realized what we are feeling universally is grief from so many losses. I wrote my Thesis in 2004 on Loss and Grief and the Stages of Grief. People all over the world are experiencing emotions that many of us have never felt or often ran from. When I do my presentations on loss, I often speak of as of how we are a society of attainment and that it’s not in our culture to speak abou...Continue reading