COVID-19 brings Culture Shock + Grief home

How to Manage the Emotional Stress of Covid-19

Have you spent time living abroad? If so, you understand the concept of “Culture Shock”. You disembark in a foreign country and immediately your body notices the change in humidity. You start taking in different smells as you double down on how to get into your next location. The language may be different as well as the time zone, it throws you into hyper-drive, until it’s too much to take in and you crash. Creating a new paradigm in which to function can feel “shocking”.

Symptoms of Culture Shock

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“Walking into my grocery store has been culture shock.”

  • Feelings of disorientation

  • Feeling edgy or irritated

  • Unfamiliar with the culture or way of life

  • Confused by the attitudes of those around you

I don’t know about you, but walking into my local grocery store during Covid- 19 has been a culture shock to me. The aisle directions are mapped out. My nose and mouth are covered. The tense eyes and jerky moves of other shoppers around me is confusing. What’s worse, I’m NOT abroad, but rather in my own grocery store, the one I’ve been shopping in for over a decade! My brain and my body are struggling to grasp this new culture and adapt to the “new normal”. it all feels a bit shocking.

Symptoms of Grief

This is where the grief comes into play. Since I’m not abroad but rather in my own hometown experiencing culture shock I now begin to experience grief.

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  • Sadness and depression

  • Trouble carrying out normal routines

  • Disturbed or poor sleep cycles

  • Social isolation

  • Feeling like you lost your sense of purpose

  • Wish you could die

I understand this is big list and perhaps a bit extreme, but when I’ve walked through grief, all of these symptoms were a part of my journey. The pandemic does not compute like the tragic death of my dear friend, but it does force me into a new journey.

Acknowledging Culture Shock and Grief

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“We cannot move forward if we cheat our way through culture shock and grief.”

We cannot move forward if we cheat our way through culture shock and grief. If being in the grocery store causes disorientation, you have to acknowledge what is happening and take it in smaller doses until you adjust. As for grief, don’t even get me started on the folks that want to paint everything as a “blessing in disguise”. There is no blessing in a death of a loved one or the death of our way of life. There are intense feelings that need space and understanding. We need people we can trust, people that can witness our grief without judging it.

Once we feel our feelings and allow others to witness our pain, we can make it to the other side more easily. One day, we may be able to find the meaning and count our blessings, but for now, it’s too soon. In this already-not-yet state it would serve us to maintain a sense of grace for ourselves and for others. No judgement, just grace.

Tips for Managing Culture Shock and Grief

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Tips to Process the Culture Shock and Grief that Comes with Covid-19:

  • Pay attention to your body (especially your jaw, shoulders, and lower back).

  • Find healthy ways to process the adrenaline and stress out of your body (walks, exercise and meaningful conversations).

  • Put together a thoughtful routine and ask a buddy to help you stick to it (this will help with sleeping and healthy eating).

  • Have a daily check in with someone that will not judge your experience, feelings, or thoughts.

  • Practice journaling, meditation, and/or prayer.

  • Take moments to PLAY and embrace the whimsical around you.

If there’s anything I can do to help you, I’m here. Be well and take care my friends.

Rachel



Rachel Lockman