A family-systems mentor once taught me, “Depression stems from suffering from a loss, or anger turned inwards.” In this virus time, loss and anger abound, with depression nipping at our collective heels.
When emotional pain is suppressed, it takes control of the emotional dashboard, steering the psyche into a dark hole that feeds on lack of interaction and movement. An inward-looking posture becomes self-fulfilling paralysis.
This is not saying mourning is wrong or unhealthy. Quite the opposite. Mourning will happen regardless of what we do. Jesus mourned repeatedly, both over the the loss of his dear friend Lazarus and over the loss of his relationship with his Father.
But mourning should be relational. It is best experienced collectively, in the presence of those who love you and accept you in a spirit of grace, not judgment.
Mourning and moving belong together like complimentary lovers who bring strength to the other’s weakness.
What have you lost that you need to mourn? What will the future look like once COVID-19 is a period of history we retell but no longer indwell?
Who would welcome a conversation about this?