Title: Grief, Bereavement, and Coping With Loss (PDQ®)–Patient Version - National Cancer Institute
Headings: Grief, Bereavement, and Coping With Loss (PDQ®)–Patient Version
Grief, Bereavement, and Coping With Loss (PDQ®)–Patient Version
Overview
Bereavement and Grief
Key Points
Bereavement is the period of sadness after losing a loved one through death.
Grief is the normal process of reacting to the loss.
Types of Grief Reactions
Key Points
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
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
Factors that Affect Complicated Grief
Key Points
Researchers study grief reactions to try to find out what might increase the chance that complicated grief will occur.
Studies have looked at how 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.
Treatment of Grief
Key Points
Normal grief may not need to be treated.
Complicated grief may be treated with different types of psychotherapy (talk therapy).
Complicated grief treatment (CGT) is a type of grief therapy that was helpful in a clinical trial.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for complicated grief was helpful in a clinical trial.
Depression related to grief is sometimes treated with drugs.
Children and Grief
Key Points
A child's grief process is different from an adult's.
Several factors can affect how a child will cope with grief.
Children at different stages of development have different understandings of death and the events near death.
Infants
Age 2-3 years
Age 3-6 years
Age 6-9 years
Age 9 and older
Grief and Developmental Stages
Most children who have had a loss have three common worries about death.
Did I make the death happen?
Is it going to happen to me?
Who is going to take care of me?
Talking honestly about the death and including the child in rituals may help the grieving child.
Explain the death and answer questions.
Use the correct language.
Include the child in planning and attending memorial ceremonies.
There are books and other resources with information on helping a grieving child.
Cultural Responses to Grief and Loss
Key Points
Cultures have different ways of coping with death.
Individual, personal experiences of grief are similar in different cultures.
Cultural issues that affect people who are dealing with the loss of a loved one include rituals, beliefs, and roles.
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Content: The way people mourn is affected by beliefs, religious practices, and cultural customs. People who are grieving are sometimes described as bereaved. Grief is the normal process of reacting to the loss. Grief is the emotional response to the loss of a loved one. Common grief reactions include the following: Feeling emotionally numb. Feeling unable to believe the loss occurred. Feeling anxiety from the distress of being separated from the loved one. Mourning along with depression. A feeling of acceptance.