Grief and Loss

Loss Definition

State of being without someone/something to which the person is attached or values

Necessary Loss

Part of life cycle, anticipated but still intensely felt l/t sadness, grief, emotional distress

Maturational Loss

Normal expected life changes associated with normal development changes

Situational Loss

Unpredictable eternal event that typically happens suddenly

Actual Loss

Loss that others can recognize (such as physical objects, amputation, eye/hearing loss, mastectomy)

Percieved Loss

Uniquely defined by person experiencing the loss, less obvious to others (they’re experiencing it internally and individually go overlooked)

Ambigious Loss

Object of grief missing, no clear resolution, uncertainty (ex: missing person, dementia, TBI)

Anticipatory Loss

Experience before loss happens and person knows it is likely to happen (ex: family grieving while loved one in hospital)

Complicated Loss

Trauma, suicide, murder, miscarrage/perinatal death

Interventions When Loss Occurs

Practice active listening, use therapeutic silence, acknowledge the loss, assess coping/support systems, respect cultural practices

Grief

Normal inner emotional response to loss exhibited through thoughts/feelings/behaviors, each person grieves differently

Mourning

Social expression and behaviors of grief, usually cultural related traditions (ex: rituals, funerals, memorials, celebrations of life)

Bereavement

Outward emotional and behavioral response of the survivor experiencing loss, has no time limit

Feelings of Grief

Sorrow, fear, anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness

Physical Sensations of Grief

Headaches, nausea, insomnia, SOB, lack of energy

Behaviors of Grief

Crying, distancing from people, absent mindedness, keeping the deceased’s room intact, wearning objects belonging to deceased

Normal Grief

Common, uncomplicated reaction d/t loss, acceptance by 6 months and able to reorganize with new norm

Normal Grief Manifestations

Sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, all are intensified during holidays, no timeline

Anticipatory Grief

Before actual loss + begins to prepare for inevitable → goes through grief cycles before actual loss → relief when death occurs