THE IMPACT OF GRIEF WITHOUT A FAREWELL

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to the way people feel about grief, which means they have to deal with the loss of loved ones without the chance to say formal goodbyes. This study examines the emotional and psychological effects of this new reality, with an emphasis on the consequences of the absence of mourning rituals during a pandemic. The grief, already painful in nature, was intensified by the impossibility of carrying out these rituals, which are essential for accessibility and overcoming the loss. The research carries out a qualitative literature review, covering books and articles from the last 5 to 10 years, to explore the effects of mourning without goodbye and possible strategies for a healthy elaboration of this process. The results show that the absence of farewell rituals significantly increased the events of the entire complex, characterized by prolonged feelings of denial, guilt and incompleteness. Furthermore, the absence of a formal farewell intensified the emotional suffering, complicating the natural process of accessibility. The study concludes that it is essential to develop new forms of emotional support, such as symbolic or virtual rituals, to mitigate the impacts of grief in times of crisis. These interventions are essential to help the bereaved process their losses in a healthier way, preventing psychological complications in the distant future.