Loss and Grief

Supporting Individuals Experiencing Loss and Grief
Grief can be defined as intense emotion felt when someone experiences a loss that is significant. It is the process of working through the pain of loss, a functional necessity. Typically people view a significant loss as a death in the family or of a close friend, but there are many life changes and transitions which produce feelings of loss and grief. Grief has several components: physical, behavioural, emotional, mental, social and spiritual.
One main type of grief would be bereavement. Using an example of someone close being terminally ill in hospital and only being a matter of time before they pass away can be known as anticipated grief.   This type of grief gives the bereaved an opportunity to gain closure. Grief involves emotional feelings of sadness, anger and perhaps guilt. It can also include physical effects such as upset stomachs and difficulty breathing. Cognitively it involves forgetfulness, lack of concentration and the behaviours change too like a change in sleep patterns. However anticipatory grief gives the bereaved an opportunity to come to terms with the situation gradually, being able to attempt to start dealing with life without their loved one.   Also they have the chance to say goodbye, thank you and I love you which can help with the process of healing after the death.   Also with an anticipated death the person who have been diagnosed has a chance to prepare by arranging the funeral, having last requests and ensuring loose ends are tied so there is no problems with the will or assets after their death.
  All these things will have an effect on the bereaved loved ones and make the impacts of loss less harrowing once they have gone.   In an unexpected death for example a heart attack, the impacts of the loss are intensified because there is no opportunity to prepare for the loss, say good bye.   This type of loss can produce intense grief which would trigger emotions of shock, anger,...