Amid the coronavirus outbreak, there has been significant losses felt by people across the world.
There’s been the loss of people, of jobs, of security and a sense of normalcy.
However, for couples, sharing the grief with your partner may help to make the relationship stronger.
"How spouses manage grief matters more than ever for the health of their partnerships and their individual well-being," according to AARP. "It can bolster the mutual support and sense of togetherness that bring out the best in each other during a crisis."
According to AARP, here are some of the ways that couples can help each other grieve right now:
Allow yourself to feel what comes up
Clinical psychologists Barry Jacobs and Julia Mayer write that couples should support each other in feeling whatever emotions grief brings up.
“If you let yourself feel bereavement's sadness, then you will more fully cherish what you had and savor the important people, pets, livelihoods and activities still part of your life,” they write.
Find a ritual that works for you
Jacobs and Mayer also write that it can be helpful to call upon religion or other rituals to help amid the grieving process.
"Couples should strongly consider engaging in the rituals of their own faiths and backgrounds (modified for current restrictions) but also think about private rituals, such as cooking well-loved meals, listening to favorite inspiring songs or sharing stories of past triumphs and celebrations," according to the AARP article.
Look for small silver linings where you can
Despite the large about of losses, both small and significant, amid the coronavirus outbreak, Jacobs and Mayer encourage couples to look for small silver linings as a way of finding hope for the future.
“Finding ways to support one another in sadness but also hope paves a better future for all,” they write.
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