Chapter 37: The Experience of Loss, Death and Grief Flashcards
3 Types of Loss
- Necessary Loss
- Maturational Loss
- Situational Loss
Necessary Loss
Loss that is a natural part of life
May eventually be replaced by something different or better
Some are permanent and threaten security and belonging (death of loved one, divorce, loss of independence)
Maturational Loss
a type of necessary loss. all normally expected life changes throughout the lifespan
Examples of maturational loss
children leaving home for preschool, college
loss of favorite grade school teacher as you progress through school
loss of grandparents and elderly parents
Situational Loss
sudden unpredictable external events that bring about loss
ex. trauma and permanent disability
Actual Loss
When a person can no longer feel, hear, see or know a person or object.
Ex. loss of body part, loved one, job or valued object.
Perceived Loss
Uniquely defined by the person experiencing the loss and is less obvious to other people.
Ex. loss of confidence, status and daily routines
Perceive losses are easily
overlooked d/t their internal nature
Examples of losses during hospitalization
Access to familiar people Loss of familiar environment Loss of privacy Loss of control over body functions Loss of daily routines Loss (long-term or temporary): (Family role, relationships and daily activities)
Grief
the emotional response to a loss, manifested in ways unique to an individual and based on personal experiences, cultural expectations and spiritual beliefs
Mourning
- outward social expressions of grief and the behavior associated with loss
- culturally influenced and learned behaviors
Bereavement
includes the responses of both grief and mourning
Normal (uncomplicated) grief
feelings of acceptance, disbelief, yearning, anger and depression are displayed in normal bereavement grief.
Coping mechanisms for grieving people include
- Hardiness and resilience
- Personal sense of control
- The ability to make sense of and identify positive possibilities after a loss
Anticipatory Grief
the unconscious process of disengaging or “letting go” before the actual loss or death occurs
Characteristics of Anticipatory Grief
- Experience responses to grief (shock, denial and tearfulness) before the actual death occurs; possibly feeling relief when the death finally happens.
- Gives people time to prepare and accept what is coming.
- May cause added stress d/t emotional roller coaster of dealing w/ a terminal illness/diagnosis
Disenfranchised Grief
Experienced when a persons relationship to the deceased person is not socially sanctioned or cannot be openly shared, or seems of lesser significance.
Examples of disenfranchised grief
Death of an ex-spouse
A gay partner
A pet
Death from a stigmatized illness such as alcoholism or during the commission of a crime.
Ambiguous Loss
Type of disenfranchised grief, when the lost person is physically present but not psychologically available such as severe dementia or brain injury.
Complicated Grief
Prolonged or significantly difficult time moving forward after a loss.
Characteristics of Complicated Grief
Chronic disruptive yearning for the deceased
Trouble accepting the death and trusting others
Feels excessively bitter, emotionally numb or anxious about the future
Chronic Grief
normal grief response however it extends for a longer period of time (years to decades)
Exaggerated Grief
self-destructive or maladaptive behavior
Delayed Grief
avoiding the full realization of the loss because it is so overwhelming.
may be triggered by a secondary loss
Masked Grief
behaving in ways that interfere with normal functioning but is unaware that the disruptive behavior is a result of the loss
Theories of Grief and Mourning
- no “normal” theoretical descriptions of a persons experience w/ grief/loss
- educating grievers about the cyclical pattern of grief prepares them for difficult days among better days
- there are psychological, physical and social reactions to loss.
Five Stages of Grief: Dynamic Process
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
Stage 1 of Grief: Denial
cannot accept the fact of the loss
Stage 2 of Grief: Anger
resistance and possibly intense anger at God, other people or the situation
Stage 3 of Grief: Bargaining
making “deals” with God or loved ones that they will live differently if hey can be sparred the grief
Stage 4 of Grief: Depression
feeling overwhelmingly sad, hopeless and lonely
Stage 5 of Grief: Acceptance
incorporates the loss into life.
finds ways to move forward
Bowlby’s Four Stages of Mourning
- Numbing
- Yearning and Searching
- Disorganized and despair
- Reorganization
Stage 1 of Mourning: Numbing
feeling “stunned”.
protects the person from the full impact of the loss.
lasts a few hours to a week or more.