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A Day of Reflection: A year on with COVID19
By Contributor Francesca Stainer
With today being the anniversary of lockdown being announced in the UK, there is a Day of Remembrance to commemorate all those we’ve lost to COVID19. We are sharing knowledge that will hopefully help on this difficult day.
23 March 2021 marks a full year since the UK’s first national lockdown, and end of life charity Marie Curie wants us all to reflect on those we’ve lost. A National Day of Reflection will be held today (23 March) by end-of-life charity Marie Curie to remember those who have died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CARING
We spoke to Dr Maria Katsarou-Makin on LID Radio Podcast about her book and the physical and psychological impact of grief – whether it be the loss of a loved one or the loss of a lifestyle that we have all felt through COVID19.
Listen via: Google Play | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audioboom
DR MARIA KATSAROU-MAKIN TALKS TO THE HOSPICE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
The Hospice of the Good Shepherd posted that: Today is the one year anniversary of the first UK lockdown. We will be supporting the #DayOfReflection with a one minute silence at 12pm. Since March 2020, thousands of lives have been lost to COVID-19 with thousands more being bereaved. Please join us on this special day for a National Day of Reflection to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
WATCH IN FULL HERE: https://fb.watch/4pEpdQeaKE/
FACTIONS OF A MIND
In suffering the unexpected loss of her husband in the space of three months, Maria has navigated this passing into an honest awakening to the stages of grief. She explores the changes to one’s character, its effects on those around them and the difficulties we face as carers when confronted with the responsibility to manage and comfort our loved one in this process.
In Factions of A Mind, Dr Katsarou-Makin examines our role as the carer, learning how to manage the responsibilities as well as the suffering and pain that comes with it, thoughtfully and honestly discussing our duty to care. As carers, our obligation to ‘care’ for the other has inexplicably meant that we do not equip ourselves with the tools and resources to ‘care’ for ourselves after their passing. Our inability to comprehend their loss and the stages of grief we are experiencing leave us vulnerable and open to further pain.
A GRIM ANNIVERSARY… BUT ARE WE READY TO FACE THE WORLD? THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED ISOLATION ON OUR BRAIN
Dr Maria Katsarou-Makin, author of Factions of a Mind, has written a blog about how isolation has mentally impacted us all.
I don’t think we are yet in a position to estimate the exact impact that the pandemic had or will continue to have on our behaviours. Think about it… for a whole year we have been thinking of people as “toxic” in a way… Not to mention all the other strains that this pandemic had on some people (getting ill, losing loved ones, loss of jobs and financial strain).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DR MARIA KATSAROU-MAKIN is the founder of the Leadership Psychology Institute and has more than 20 years of experience in organizational development and executive coaching. She combines business and consulting experience and has done extensive work and research in team dynamics. Maria is Greek and resides in Cheshire, UK.