Grief & Loss Flashcards
the experience of separation from something of personal importance.
Anything that is perceived as such by the individual.
Loss
-A significant other (person or pet); leave/runaway
Illness or debilitating conditions; stroke, accident
-Developmental/maturational changes; reality of being an adult
-Decrease in self-esteem
-Personal possessions
Examples of loss
Stage I;Denial Stage II; Anger Stage III; Bargaining Stage IV: Depression Stage V: Acceptance
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Stages of grief
Stage I: Numbness or protest (Denial)
Stage II: Disequilibrium (Anger, bargaining, lil depression)
Stage III: Disorganization and despair (depression, helplessness)
Stage IV: Reorganization (Acceptance)
John Bowlby Stages of grief
Stage I; Shock & disbelief
Stage II; Developing awareness, mins of loss
Stage III; Restitution; making arrangements for funeral
Stage IV; Resolution of the loss; preoccupation with loss. Lost pt. is idealized
Stage V; Recovery; move forward with own life
George Engel; Stages of grief
Task I; Accepting the reality of the loss; identifies loss member with someone else.
Task II: Processing the pain of grief
Task III: Adjusting to a world without the lost entity
Task IV: Finding an enduring connection with the lost entity in the midst of embarking on a new life; acceptance
J. William Worden; Stages of grief
The grief process is very individual and may last for many years
Length of the grief process
Usually lasts about 6 to 8 weeks; longer in older adults
Acute grief
- the bereaved person was strongly dependent
- the relationship was an ambivalent one
- the individual has experienced a number of recent losses; anxiety state; psychosis can happen
- the loss is that of a young person; longtime
- the bereaved person’s health is unstable
- the bereaved person perceives some responsibility for the loss; guilty feelings
The grief process is more difficult if..
The individual has the support of significant others.
The individual has the opportunity to prepare for the loss.
Makes the grieving process easier
Is thought to have occurred when a bereaved individual is able to remember comfortably and realistically both the pleasures and disappointments of that which is lost.
Remember the good times & bad. Reality of situations
Resolution of the grief process
- The experiencing of the feelings and emotions associated with the normal grief response before the loss actually occurs.
- Difficulty arises when family members complete the process of anticipatory grief and detachment from the dying person occurs prematurely.
- Anticipatory grieving may be positive for some people and less functional for others.
Anticipatory Grieving
-The absence of grief when it ordinarily would be expected.
-Potentially pathological because the person is not dealing with the reality of the loss.
-Remains fixed in the denial stage of the grief process.
-Grief may be triggered much later in response to a subsequent loss.
(Denial Stage)
Delayed or inhibited grief (Maladaptive Responses to Loss)
All of the symptoms associated with normal grieving are exaggerated.
-The individual becomes incapable of managing activities of daily living.
-The individual remains fixed in the anger stage of the grief process.
-Depressed mood disorder is a type of distorted grief response.
(Anger Stage, depressed, lash out)
Distorted (exaggerated) grief [Maladaptive Responses to Loss
A prolonged grief process may be considered maladaptive when certain behaviors are exhibited.
- behaviors aimed at keeping the lost loved one alive (shrine or room)
- behaviors that prevent the bereaved from adaptively performing activities of daily living. (busy grieving)
Chronic or prolonged grieving
One crucial difference between normal and maladaptive grieving.
- The loss of self-esteem does not occur in uncomplicated bereavement.
- The loss of self-esteem ultimately precipitates depression (loss of helplessness and hoplessness)
Normal vs. Maladaptive Grieving
unable to understand death but can experience the feelings of loss and seperation (Do know seperation)
Birth to age 2; developmental issues; concepts of death
have some understanding about death but have difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality; believe death is reversible (When are they coming back?)
Age 3 to 5; developmental issues; concepts of death
beginning to understand the finality of death; difficult to perceive their own death; normal grief reactions include regressive and aggressive behaviors
Age 6 to 9; developmental issues; concepts of death
understand that death is final and eventually affects everyone; feelings of anger, guilt, and depression are common; peer relations and school performance may be disrupted.
Age 10 to 12; developmental issues; concepts of death
-Usually able to view death on an adult level;
-Have difficulty perceiving their own death
-May or may not cry; may withdraw
-May exhibit acting out behaviors
(Immature thinking; know they can die. Wondering who is going to be at their funeral. Cant separate won’t be @ own funeral)
Adolescents; concepts of death