We have survived a year of coronavirus and the pandemic, but how do we really feel about what has happened? This week we bring back therapist and grief specialist Dr. Joanne Koegl. We had her on the show last year just after the pandemic began, to discuss grief & collective loss of normal life. During this week’s episode we cover everything from Joanne’s personal experience of loss due to covid to identifying survivor’s guilt and Paulina’s guilt & depression from her experience of surviving the disease last year. This was not an easy year for anyone but we’re here to listen, talk about our feelings and as always, we recommend reaching out to a professional if you feel deeper feelings that just aren’t getting resolved.

It’s okay to not be okay. If you are struggling, know that asking for help is a sign of strength. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential assistance.

More about Joanne: Dr. Joanne Diaz-Koegl is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist from Pasadena, California. Prior to her Master’s Degree, she worked for over 18 years as a television producer working on numerous TV Shows. After experiencing the sudden loss of her young husband in a car accident, she realized her life lacked a deeper meaning and purpose. She decided to return to college and received her Master of Arts in Marriage, Family, Therapy in 2005 and also wrote a 291 page thesis titled “The Impact on the Surviving Spouse with Respect to Anticipated Versus Unanticipated Death”. Joanne is very passionate in helping her clients thrive and grow from their experiences in therapy. She now specializes in couples counseling, premarital counseling, loss and grief, individual and personal growth therapy/coaching, and has worked with thousands of individuals and couples to create better, more fulfilled, happy lives.

Mindfulness Practices Recommended by Dr. Joanne to Help Process Traumatic Events

Talk about it. Find a mental health professional in your area. You can book a session with Joanne or find more resources here.
Journal. This is a great article for how to start journaling, another resource for journal prompts and we are very excited for Dulce Candy’s upcoming launch of self-love journals and more.

LINKS

Learn more about the services Joanne offers and book a Zoom session with her via her website.

The Rebellious Widow: A Practical Guide to Love and Life After Loss by Jill Johnson-Young helped Joanne deal with her grief last year.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s tip for this quarantine period is don’t throw away your recycling items: boxes, egg cartons, and packing supplies! Kids don’t need toys because they can create so much with leftover boxes, paint, stickers, markers, glue and more. All you have to do is look online for crafts, for example, google “egg carton craft” and you’ll find a variety of activities to choose from.

Paulina’s tip is the gratitude jar from her IGTV post. You can use it as a reminder of all the good things you have going on in your life regardless of the situation we are currently experiencing. Have your family add to it everyday and at the end of this social isolation, go through all the papers and know you survived something so tough. it’s a way to stay grounded and connected with the family during this tough time.

Links

Support small businesses!

Order family meals online from Guelaguetza for easy curbside pickup! You can also order delivery via DoorDash and Grubhub. You can also order our mole or cookbook to recreate your favorite dishes at home.

Order your favorite I Love Micheladas mix to quench your thirst for the next few weeks, and to get prepped for summer!

If you’re celebrating a birthday during the social isolation period (and when the quarantine is over), check out @lotuspartyco for balloons and more!