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Presenter
Mrs.V.Jesinda Vedanayagi,
H.O.D of psychiatric Nursing,
S.H.N.C,Madurai.
Grief,a series of intense
physical,spiritual and psychological
responses that occur following a loss,is
a normal,natural,necessary and
adaptive responses to a loss.
Types of grief
1.Uncomplicated grief(normal grief)
The grief reaction is similar to other physical
conditions and draws a parallel between a disease
process and grief process.
-A common etiologic factor
-A predictable symptomatology and course
-Functional impairement for a period of time
-Distress and inability to function normally
2.Dysfunctional grief
Is a demonstration of a persistent pattern of
intense grief that does not result in
reconciliation of feelings. The bereaved may
have the need to endlessly tell and retell the
story of loss but without subsequent healing.
3.Anticipatory grief
Is the occurence of grief work before an
expected loss actually occurs.
4)Disenfranchised grief
Grief that is not openly
acknowledged,socially sanctioned or publicly
shared.Individual either is reluctant to recognize
the sense of loss and develops guilt feelings or
feels pressured by society to get on with life.
5)Complicated grief
Is distinguished from uncomplicated grief
by ‘’length of time &intensity of emotions’’.The
person’s response are maladaptive,usually
prolonged or overwhelming.
6)Chronic grief
Begins as normal grief but continues longterm,
with little resolution of feelings and inability to
rejoin in normal life.
7)Masked grief
It occurs when the person is grieving but
expressing the grief through other types of
behaviour.
8)Delayed grief
Is grief that is put off until a later time.
Denial
Usually occurs when the person is first told of
the illness.
• Individual’s may say,
– “The tests are wrong.”
– “This can’t be happening to me.”
– “I don’t believe it.”
• Others don’t talk about it.
• Health care workers should listen without
confirming or denying it.
Anger
• This stage occurs when the patient can no
longer deny death.
• The patient may blame themselves, their
loved ones, or health care workers for their
illness.
• Health care workers must understand this is
not a personal attack.
Bargaining
• Usually occurs when patient accepts death but wants
more time to live.
• Patients turn to religion and spiritual beliefs during
this period.
• They want to see their child gradate, get married, or
hold a grandchild.
• Making promises to God to try and obtain more time
sometimes occurs.
Depression
• This stage occurs when the patient realizes
that death will come soon and they won’t be
with their families any longer.
• They realize that some goals they set will not
be met.
• Health care workers need to let the patient
know that depression is “OK”.
Acceptance
• This is normally the final stage.
• The patient understands that they are going to
die.
• May complete unfinished business and try to
help those around them deal with death.
• Patients will slowly get farther away from the
world and other people.
• They need emotional support during this
stage.
Common grief reaction
Physical:
Loss of appetite
Weight loss or gain
Fatigue
Decreased libido
Decreased immune system response
Decreased energy
Head ache/stomach pain
Behavioural:
Forgetfulness
Withdrawn
Insomnia or too much of sleep
Dreaming of deceased
Verbalizing the loss
Crying
Loss of productivity at work
Emotional:
 Anger
 Anxiety
 Sadness
 Guilt
 Shock
 Numbness
 Loneliness
 Fear
 Powerlessness
 Helplessness
Cognitive:
Decreased concentration
Impaired judgement
Obsessive thought of lost object
Preoccupation
Confusion
Questioning spiritual beliefs
Searching for understanding
Searching for purpose and meaning
THEORIES OF THE GRIEVING PROCESSS
LINEMANN THEORY
1)Somatic distress
The bereaved experience episodic waves of
discomfort in duration of 10 to 60
minutes,multiple somatic complaints,fatigue and
extreme physical and emotional pain.
2)Preoccupation with the image of the deceased
The bereaved experience a sense of unreality,
emotional detachement from others and an
overwhelming preoccupation with visualizing the
deceased.
3)Guilt
The bereaved consider the death to be a result of their own
negligence or lack of attentiveness,they look for the
evidence of how they could contributed to the death.
4)Hostile reaction
The bereaved relationship with others become impaired.
Desire to be left alone and have feeling of irritability and
anger.
5)Loss of pattern of conduct
Exhibit generalized restlessness and they continually
search for something to do.
ENGLE THEORY
Stage1:Shock and disbelief(last for mts to days)
-Disorientation
-Feeling of helplessness
-Denial
Stage2:Developing awareness(last from 6 months to 12 months)
-Guilt
-Sadness
-Isolation
-Loneliness
-Feeling of helplessness
-Anger &hostility towards others
-Increasing emotional pain
Stage 3:Restitution and resolution(may take up to
several years)
-Emergence of bodily symptoms
-Possible realization
-Beginnings of coming to terms with the loss
-Establishment of new social patterns and
relationship
Theresa Rando theories of grief(2000)
3 Phases of grieving
1.Avoidance-Shock ,disbelief, denial,anger
&bargaining.
2.Confrontation-Person actually faces loss,is a very
emotional and upsetting time.
3.Accommodation-Person begins to livewithout the
loss,feel better and resume some routine activities.
Rando six R’s of grieving
R –Recognizing the loss(awareness)
R- Reacting to the separation(feel the emotions)
R- Recollecting memories of the
deceased(remembering,reliving)
R- Relinquishing the old attachement(new ways of
living without the deceased)
R- Readjusting to the new environment(new coping
skills)
R- Reinvesting self(energy once turned inward on
grief begins to be focused outward again)
John Bowlby’s attachement
theory(1982)
1.Shock and numbness
Disorientation
Feeling of helpless
2.Yearning and searching
 Wanting to be reconnected with the deceased
3.Disorganization and despair
 Feeling the pain &emotions of grief
4.Reorganization
Adjusting to life without the deceased,developing
new coping skills
DUAL PROCESS MODEL
It describes the every day life experience of grief as
moving back and forth between loss- oriented and
restoration- oriented process.
Loss-oriented behaviour-includes grief
work,dwelling on the loss, breaking connections
to the deceased, and resisting activities to get past
the grief.
Restoration- oriented activities-
*Attending to the life changes
*Finding new roles or relationships
*Coping with finance
*Participating in distractions
These provide balance to the loss oriented state.
The extent to which an individual engage in
loss or restoration oriented process depends
on the factors such as personality, coping
styles or cultural practices.
FACTORS AFFECTING LOSS & GRIEF
1.Developmental stage
*Childhood
*Adolescence
*Adulthood
2.Religious and cultural beliefs
3.Relationship with the lost person pr object
4.Timeliness of death
5.Cause of death
*Unexpected death
*Traumatic or Suicide
6.Amount of support for the bereaved
7.Conflicts existing at the time of death
8.Circumstances of the loss
9.Previous loss
Nursing care of the grieving client
1.Assessment
-Determination of the personal meaning of the loss
-Deciding the person’s progress in terms of the grieving
process.
2.Nursing diagnosis
-Identify the appropriate related factors
3.Planning
Goals:
-Verbalize feeling of grief
-Share grief with significant others
-Accept the loss
-Renew activities and relationship
4.Implementation
-Must spend time in listening
-Demonstrate acceptance
-Non-judgemental and accepting attitude
-Avoid personalizing and using defensive
behaviour.
-Provide reassurance,counseling and
support(support group)
5.Evaluation
Grief and grieving