“Do You Know What Today Is?”: Long Grief and the Experience of Living in a Post-Pandemic World
As someone who lives with numerous mysterious ailments, I am generally tapped into the world of wellness and self-help. One of the things that has significantly helped me on my journey toward healing is being mindful of and acknowledging trauma anniversaries. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, the body sometimes retains the dates of traumatic events, even if the mind does not. That’s why keeping track of trauma or grief anniversaries can be an excellent way to manage your mental health and take care of yourself during challenging times.
And while I thought I knew all my anniversaries, I discovered a new one this week. While scrolling through TikTok, I came across a video from Dr. Joy, a well-known psychologist who hosts the podcast and platform “Therapy for Black Girls.” She informed us that we were experiencing a societal grief anniversary largely unrecognized within popular culture.
This week, four years ago, marks the beginning of the period of social isolation that followed the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic in America. Reflecting on this anniversary, Dr. Joy emphasized the importance of self-care and recognizing signs of grief.
