Pandemic Grief
by Abhilash Desai, MD

“I am emotionally drained

Another death witnessed

and I am unmoved

What’s going on”

“It’s unrecognized grief

in physician burnout’s clothing

You lost your mom in 2020

Lost so many patients

in 2020 and 2021

You have lost faith

in humanity

in our health care system

in our government

What you have witnessed

and experienced since March 2020

has been ghastly,

horrible, inhuman

disgraceful, appalling

disgusting, hideous, despicable

Words fail to do the job

don’t they?”

He nodded

“You need to take time

to grieve my friend

Take time to grieve”

Many of my wonderful colleagues, especially those working in the hospital have experienced and witnessed unimaginable losses in 2020, 2021 and now have PTSD. Many are unaware or are keeping it hidden, or suppressing or avoiding it, hoping it will eventually go away. It won’t. Pandemic grieving is hard not only because of its immensity but also because of ongoing trauma.