There’s really no other way to put this: It’s a weird time filled with a weird mix of emotions. While everyone is talking about hot girl summer and the off-the-charts joy of the world reopening as vaccines become more available, it doesn’t erase the fact that, for many of us, the past year was traumatic.
Millions of people lost family, friends, and a sense of security. We faced the trauma of systemic racism, police brutality, and violence against minorities. And we navigated all this while working from home, or braving front-line work, or losing our jobs. As we step into a new normal, there’s definitely a lot to process —it’s okay if you don’t feel like partying in the streets just yet.
Therapy is a great way of processing the complicated grief (and the many mental health stressors it brings) of the past year. But engaging with people who talk about it openly — IRL and on social media — is also helpful for navigating the wild range of emotions we’re all feeling right now.
Luckily, there are a lot of people doing just that on Instagram. (Just remember, an Instagram account is never going to replace working with a trained mental health practitioner.) Here are 11 accounts to follow on Instagram that will help support you in processing all types of grief.
Amanda Kloots
Fitness influencer, co-host on The Talk, and now New York Times bestselling author, Amanda Kloots very publicly documented her husband Nick Cordero’s battle with Covid-19. When he died in July of 2020, she was raw and open with her grief, creating a community for her hundreds of thousands of followers to document the many ups and downs of losing a loved one. Come for her positive outlook on life, stay for the healing.
Black Girls Breathing
Jasmine Marie founded her Instagram community to bring the healing power of breathwork to women of color around the world. Through virtual breathwork circles and inspirational posts, Black Girls Breathing is a place to acknowledge and process the effects of generational trauma.
Writing Grief
Angela Morris founded Writing grief to help her Instagram community process loss and heartbreak and to “remind us to grieve softly, take care of ourselves & each other.”
Morgan Harper Nichols
Artist and poet Morgan Harper Nichols creates beautiful, sharable works of art that will help you navigate uncertainty, process loss, and practice self-love.
I Had a Miscarriage
Psychologist Jessica Zucker founded the ‘I Had a Miscarriage’ community after suffering her own traumatic loss. It’s evolved into an inclusive space to share resources and process the complicated feelings surrounding pregnancy and loss.
Notes from Your Therapist
Notes from Your Therapist feel like, well, little notes from your therapist. They explore grief and shame with the aim of normalizing both to help you move forward.
Asian Mental Health Project
The Asian Mental Health Project is a community filled with resources that specifically address the unique grief of generational trauma and racial stereotyping faced by the AAPI community and help to destigmatize mental health care.
Alex Mammadyarov
Therapist Alex Mammadyarov specializes in helping people work through grief — whether that’s from the loss of a loved one or the anxiety of a major life change. On her Instagram, you’ll find her philosophy distilled into highly-sharable Instagram graphics.
Lemons 2 Lemonade
Brittney Oliver, a writer, speaker and content strategist, founded Lemons 2 Lemonade after a series of career setbacks. With over a million women forced out of the workforce by the pandemic, Lemons 2 Lemonade is a place for encouragement and support during the highs — and lows — of your career.
Anne Carly
Anne Carly’s sweet little notes belie deeper sentiments about processing emotional trauma.
The Body a Home for Love
Founded by Deun Ivory, this community is a space for Black women healing from sexual trauma filled with resources to help process grief, set boundaries, and reclaim joy.
