bereavement and grief

bereavement and grief in old age!
-stages of grief and bereavement
-symptoms of grief and bereavement
-types of reactions
-factors affecting grief and bereavement
-coping with grief and bereavement
-how to support others

1. HD -301 Psychological Reactions to Bereavement and Grief. Submitted to :- Submitted by :- Dr.(Mrs.) Sarita Saini Harmeen Kaur Grewal L-2010-H.sc-13-BVI

2. GRIEF According to John Bowlby, Grief is the physical, emotional, somatic, cognitive and spiritual response to actual or threatened loss of a person, thing or place to which we are emotionally attached. We grieve because we are biologically willed to attach.

3. SYMPTOMS OF GRIEF Grief is expressed physically , emotionally , socially , and spiritually . Physical  expressions of grief often include   , headaches , loss of appetite , difficulty in sleeping , weakness ,  fatigue , nausea , aches , pains , headaches, palpitations Emotional expressions of grief include feelings of sadness and yearning . But feelings of worry , anxiety , frustration , anger , crying   , numbness, guilt are also normal. Social expressions of grief may include feeling detached from others , isolating yourself from social contact , and behaving in ways that are not normal for you . Spiritual expressions of grief may include questioning the reason for your loss, the purpose of pain and suffering, the purpose of life , and the meaning of death .

4. Anticipatory Grief Anticipatory grief may occur when a death is expected . Anticipatory grief may help the family but not the dying person. Anticipatory grief does not always occur. Normal Grief/ Common Grief Normal or common grief begins soon after a loss and symptoms go away over time . Many bereaved people will have grief bursts or pangs. Grief is sometimes described as a process that has stages . Complicated Grief There is no right or wrong way to grieve , but studies have shown that there are patterns of grief that are different from the most common . This has been called complicated grief . It includes Minimal grief reaction and Chronic grief reactions. TYPES OF GRIEF REACTIONS

5. The following factors affect the grief response- Whether the death is expected or unexpected . The personality of the bereaved . The religious beliefs of the bereaved. Whether the bereaved is male or female . The age of the bereaved . The amount of social support the bereaved has. FACTORS AFFECTING COMPLICATED GRIEF

6. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, identified five stages of grief : 1. Denial (this isn’t happening to me!) 2. Anger (why is this happening me?) 3. Bargaining (I promise I’ll be a better person if...) 4. Depression (I don’t care anymore!) 5. Acceptance (I’m ready to go on with life)

7. Grieving a significant loss takes time. Depending on the circumstances of your loss, grieving can take weeks to years. Grieving helps you gradually adjust to a new chapter of your life . Attend (or organize) memorial or funeral services. Talk to family or friends Seek counselling Get enough sleep or at least enough rest. Try and get some regular exercise. Keep a balanced diet. Drink plenty of water. Drink alcohol in moderation. Do what comforts, sustains & recharges. Engage in social activities Seek spiritual support COPING WITH GRIEF

8. Supporting Others Who Are Grieving

9. BEREAVEMENT Bereavement is the period of sadness and loneliness that we experience when we lose a loved one. When we experience bereavement, we are trying to adjust to the loss. We typically associate the feelings of loss during bereavement with the death of a loved one. However, the loss can be due to many factors.

10. How does bereavement affect older people ? Older people’s responses vary greatly and coping with loss is not necessarily a by-product of being older. Other losses in an older person’s life will affect how they grieve the loss of someone close. existing health conditions communication and cognitive difficulties reduced social support changed living arrangements i.e. moving to sheltered housing financial difficulties. However, people will also experience ageing in ways that will help them to cope and adapt to losses. reciprocal support of and for family and friends better health for longer financial stability ability to work or contribute to society in a range of ways.          

11. EFFECTS OF BEREAVEMENT Physical  e ffects of bereavement often include   difficulty getting to sleep , vivid dreams and long periods of wakefulness , may lose appetite . Some people feel tense and short of breath , or edgy and restless ; others feel slow and lethargic. Emotional   effects of bereavement include grief , emptiness and depression , anger , fear , mixed feelings . Social  effects of bereavement may include feeling detached from others , isolating yourself from social contact , and behaving in ways that are not normal for you . Spiritual  effects of bereavement may include questioning the reason for your loss, the purpose of pain and suffering, the purpose of life , and the meaning of death .

12. Experts generally accept that there are four stages of bereavement- Accepting that your loss is real Experiencing the pain of grief Adjusting to life without the person who has died  Putting less emotional energy into grieving and putting it into something new (in other words, moving on)

13. Do try to prepare yourself in advance of death Do express your emotions Do take great care of yourself Do try to guard against accidents in home and ensure your home is secure Ensure to consult a doctor if your health is a worry Don’t let family or friends hurry you in making important decisions Don’t enter into any financial arrangement you don’t understand Don’t allow the funeral rituals to be expensive Don’t turn to drugs, alcohol or smoke Don’t move your home while you are still grieving Take it at your own pace don’t hurry the healing process COPING WITH BEREAVEMENT

14. REFERENCES www.webmd.com www.caregiver.org www.healthfulmd.hubpages.com www.nhs.uk http://www.oldagesolutions.org/

15. It gets better Thank you