What Is It? What to Expect?
Grief Dictionary: the following definitions are adapted from the American Psychology Association
As the end of life draws near there may be the emergence of anticipatory grief, a pre-death sense of grieving before the loss actually occurs. What will the future be like in the absence of this person? These thoughts may not be expressed but may present as anxiety. Pre-death symptoms are not uncommon.
After experiencing the death of a loved one, you've entered a state of loss known as bereavement. Grief is the suffering one feels about the death of a loved one. Although overwhelming, grief is a normal and healthy response. It can cause various emotional reactions, some being anxiety, yearning, physiological distress, confusion, and uneasiness about the future. Mourning is the process of expressing your grief for your loss.
Experiencing intense longing for the person who has died, or persistent thoughts is a natural response to the death of a loved one. Some people develop symptoms of what is considered, prolonged grief. This is an unrelenting sense of disbelief, consistent avoiding reminders of the person who died, where one's own identity is disrupted, feeling stuck with strong emotional pain, difficulty engaging with friends or pursuing own interests, a sense of numbness and detachment. Prolonged grief disorder often occurs.
What to Expect in Grief
- Physical symptoms: insomnia, fatigue, change in appetite, tension, gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness, heart palpitations, restlessness, headaches, sexual dysfunction, or loss of libido, vulnerable to illness.
- Emotional turmoil: loss of interest, sad, anger, guilt, fear, loneliness, numbness, anxiety, relief, loss of control, helplessness.
- Cognitive reactions: confusion, inability to concentrate or "brain fog", preoccupation with thoughts.
- Social isolation: withdrawal, disruption of academic or work performance, changed relationships, over-reactivity.
- Spiritual distress: emptiness, abandonment, despair, meaning of suffering, why questions, loss of connection, reconciliation.
- Financial stress: loss of income, medical and funeral expenses.
