grief & loss and trauma & stressor-related disorders

types of grief

Anticipatory: feeling of sadness prior to the death of a loved one or someone’s own death 

Complicated: lasts for a longer period of time, continues to be severe 

• 6-12 mos 

• Come with symptoms of depression, trauma 

• Factors that make it harder 

Delayed 

• Days, months, hours to take effect 

• Same intensity as other grief 

• No grief in the initial period 

Disenfranchised 

• Stigma around it 

• Substance use, abortion 

• Make the person not want to grief openly 

Prolonged 

• Longer than 6-12 mos 

Unresolved 

• Ongoing or suppressed grief 

types of loss

Tangible 

• Separation from loved one 

• Death of a loved one 

• Loss of body part or function 

• Loss of property 

• Loss of employment 

Intangible 

• Loss of self-worth 

• Loss of memory 

• Loss of role 

• Loss of income 

• Loss of dignity 

• Loss of privacy 

• Loss of freedom 

nursing interventions following loss - individual

fostering conversation with the patient to talk through their feelings; help them identify coping strategies that work for them; providing support

nursing interventions following loss - family

• Family: providing comfort measures for the family, making a calm environment (ie turning off alarms) 

• For younger kids, describing that death is permanent 

• Help them find some sort of daily routine 

• No comparisons or how they “should act” 

trauma exposure

ACEs

trauma symptoms

• Sleep disturbance 

• Nightmares 

• Mood changes 

• Substance use 

• Somatic symptoms 

• Poor concentration 

• Aggression 

• Homicidal ideation 

• Suicidal ideation 

• Self-harm 

• Social isolation 

• Anhedonia 

Characteristics of various trauma and stressor-related disorders