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.