THE POSITIVE PROFESSOR
SOCIAL media’s voice of calm Karol Sikora has been signed up by the Daily Express. Readers can now enjoy his soothing advice in these troubled times that have won him hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter. If you need reassuring everything’s going to be all right read Professor Positivity.
I’VE been a doctor for decades and must have treated thousands of cancer patients. Fortunately I’ve been able to help many of them but, as we all know, cancer is an insidious disease and despite our best efforts will continue to take millions of loved ones long before their time.
There is little anyone can say to comfort those grieving families and it will be the same for people who have lost close ones during this pandemic.
Everybody handles it differently. Some people can carry on as normal, whereas others are totally devastated. There is no right way and we should all do what is right for ourselves.
Some will feel overwhelmed. This will pass. I know it seems there is no way forward, but it’s so important to just take one day at a time and that feeling of hopelessness will eventually improve.
After the initial shock and devastation, feelings of grief tend to come in waves. People will have good and bad days; all we can do is to make sure we are there for each other.
I find that reflection on happier times can help – memories of the good times shared in laughter and joy are powerful antidotes of grief. For others, prayer and meditation can provide huge comfort. Just a quiet place is needed.
Most important is to not bottle up your emotions. If you feel like talking about it, do so. If you feel like crying, feel free. Both can help enormously. They are very natural emotional responses.
In this country we have always struggled to talk about our grief. It’s the same with other aspects of mental health and I genuinely believe all this can have a huge impact on our physical health.
My message to anyone struggling is that time is a great healer. You may feel overwhelmed now, and that is totally normal, but it will get better. Try to remember the better times and please, look after yourself.