GRIEF, LOSS AND BEREAVEMENT

The terms “grief,” “bereavement,” and “mourning” are frequently employed in literary works interchangeably.

Meaning of Grief, Bereavement and Mourning

The terms “deep sorrow”, “heaviness of heart,” and “agony of soul” are used to describe grief. It can also be described as emotional and mental agony (Abi-Hashem, 1999). Also, grief is said to be an intense and overwhelming sensation of loss. Grieving is a process that has a result. It is a reaction to a major loss that is behavioural, emotional, and mental (Wolfelt 1988)

However, according to Sanders, bereavement can be defined as either a state brought on by or the result of experiencing a loss. Bereavement is a universal term used to characterise the wide range of events, circumstances, and adjustments that follow a loss. It also conjures up the image of a loved one being violently removed, leaving the survivor to deal with the fallout from the abrupt loss and separation.

Nonetheless, mourning is an outward expression of grief. It is the open expression and display of sadness. Also, mourning is often affected by certain cultures and traditions of places. For instance, in cases of the loss of a husband or father, certain customs demand that the wife and children of the deceased shave their heads. Others may require professional mourners during the burial ceremony.

Kinds of Loss

Loss is what leads to grief, bereavement and mourning. It might be material or personal, concrete or symbolic, abrupt or progressive, particular or common, small or significant, actual or imagined, partial or total, corporate or personal, anticipated or unanticipated, one or more, private or public, individual or collective, local or global.

Effects of Grief and Bereavement:

No matter the form of loss you experience, if not handled accordingly, it could affect human functioning and in extreme cases could lead to anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide.

1. Grief and bereavement affect human behaviour and habit: Bereaved people tend to indulge in unhealthy habits as they feel like the world has ended for them due to their loss. These habits or behaviours may include excessive smoking, drinking, gambling, drug abuse and use of hard drugs, and unhealthy eating. These are ways these individuals use to cope with the pains of their loss. Some tend to stop their daily activities like work.
2. The social life of the bereaved is sometimes affected: The bereaved tend to lose interest in their social life and communication with others. For instance; a marriage that suffered a loss of a child sometimes ends up being separated. This normally occurs if one partner is more affected by the loss than the other. Therefore, a partner may drown themselves in their sorrow more than the other and pay no attention to the other spouse’s desires or wants. When social life is affected it can cost friendships and relationships.
3. Effect on spiritual existentialism: This occurs when a bereaved starts doubting his faith and questioning the existence of God. This could lead him to abandon his spiritual life.
4. Effect on the emotional state of the bereaved: After a loss, grief takes a different toll on the bereaved over time. These effects can be on their emotions which include mood swings, excruciating pain, overwhelming loneliness, guilt and rage, waves of melancholy, extreme irritability, sobbing fits, numerous anxieties, unsettling dreams, powerlessness, and a persistent sense of exhaustion.
5. Effect on the mental/intellectual state of the bereaved: This occurs when the bereaved have moments of uncertainty and bewilderment, loss of intellectual acuity, mental preoccupation with the deceased, seeing visions of the deceased, poor concentration, states of mental fog, periods of spacing out, poor performance in school or at work, and a general “feeling like going crazy.”
6. Effect on the physical-biological state of the bereaved: New aches and pains and specific somatic disturbances that did not exist before the loss (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, severe headaches, ulcers, joints or respiratory difficulties, etc.) are most likely to occur in the grieving person.

When these effects persist for more than two weeks, there is a need for medical consultation mental check-ups and therapy.

Different factors determine the severity of grief reactions

These variables dictate the type and degree of grief and how the grieving process plays out.

These include:

• The timing and extent of the loss.
• Any pre-existing psychological conditions of the survivor(s)
• The circumstances of the loss or death (sudden or expected)
• The nature of the relationship with and the degree of attachment to the lost object or deceased person (the stronger the attachment, the more intense the grief)
• The experience of handling previous losses (successful or still unresolved)
• The availability of a meaningful support system before, during, and after the loss (lack of support and emotional isolation can be extremely harmful)
• The survivor(s) and personality traits (emotional instability and characteriological predisposition would certainly result in greater risks for psychological disturbances and physical morbidity).
• The grieving person, family, or group’s socioeconomic status.
• The course of events following the loss
• The survivors’ existential hope and spiritual faith (the more active and mature the faith, the higher the resiliency, and the better the outcome); and
• The cultural background of the bereaved, personal heritage, and set of traditions, norms, and customs (those certainly shape and regulate the mourning process)

Book a Session here

At Bestherapy you will meet the best mental health professionals who are devoted to help the bereaved grow past these trying times, coming out stronger and better both physically and mentally.

We offer psychotherapy sessions and prescribe medications if needed to help patients in their healing process.

 

 

References

Wolfelt, A. D. (1988). Death and grief: A guide for clergy. Muncie, IN: Accelerated Development.

Abi-Hashem, Naji., (1999) Grief, Loss, and Bereavement: An Overview: Journal of Psychology and Christianity. 18(4): 309-329

Sanders, C. M. (1989). Grief: The mourning after: Dealing with adult bereavement. New York: John Wiley.