Grief

Respond to at least two of your peers by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts. 

#1

Grief

Grief is more or less a natural response to loss, and we must understand the symptoms and other regular orders to recover from a loss. One must access mental health services when bereaved or grieving ("What are the different types of losses and grief reactions?" 2010). Grief is always unwanted since it tends to cause some physical symptoms like wearing, hunger, insomnia, absence of focus, sadness, and anxiety are among the psychological reactions caused by grief. It is, in most cases, a more complex and overwhelming experience. Some notable psychological responses to grief include anger, anxiety, and guilt, among others (Fink, 2011). An individual can withdraw, experience social isolation, and be unable to function. Grieved individuals can have challenges functioning well at work placed and also with social responsibilities. They seem to experience emptiness, disconnected from the Almighty God, and tend to doubt religion and its convictions. Grieving individuals should know that they are never alone and that there are resources readily available in a society where they can get assistance ("What are the different types of losses and grief reactions?" 2010). Among them are synagogues, churches, and healthcare facilities.

Grief is categorized or classified into five major types; Anticipatory grief is an example where one mourns the loss of someone before the actual loss occurs. It happens where death is inevitable, and there is the certainty that one is going to die due to illness. Instrumental grief is another form of grief that is felt in response to a practical challenge resulting from a loss. The death of a spouse is an example where financial and childcare issues will arise on the surviving partner's side (Fink, 2011). Disenfranchised grief is another form of grief that happens when one experiences a loss. However, at the same time feels unable to clearly and openly mourn the loss due to the unacceptable nature of society.

An example is a pet or an excommunicated member of a family. Delayed grief is another type of grief that does not happen straight right away, but occurs after years or months after the loss. The fifth is ambiguous grief, which occurs when one has faced an ambiguous loss. One is unsure if he is alive or dead. It usually happens to people who have not seen the body of their beloved ones.

The cultural belief and cultural settings and their variations play an important role in how people will react to death, understands it, and even cope (Hake, 2019). There are many differences depending on the concept of death, the religion, the culture, and the practical circumstance in which death occurred. Some cultures assume that an individual should be burned the moment he dies. At the same time, others believe that the deceased's body should not be touched till his family members are around to perform some rituals. Age is a significant factor when it comes to reacting to death. Children are always in bewilderment, while adults are, in most cases, in a depressed state and grief (Hake, 2019). The aged or older people tend to show acceptance and calm curtsy of their long and prosperous life and are comfortable with the outcomes. In the American context, every life is essential, and non is valued more than the other despite the aged being wiser than the children. The people mourn differently when they lose a family member (Hake, 2019). Some cultures readily accept that the death of children or premature death is a way to go to paradise. There is also a belief in reincarnation, and the diverse belief help people cope with grief and mourning when they lose someone.

References

Fink, E. (2011). The virtual construction of legality: ‘Griefing’ and normative order in second life.  Journal of Law, Information & Science,  21(1). https://doi.org/10.5778/jlis.2011.21.fink.1

Hake, R. K. (2019). The grieving process and delinquency: Testing the therapeutic process of grieving with delinquent male adolescents. https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-12729

What are the different types of losses and grief reactions? (2010).  When Kids are Grieving: Addressing Grief and Loss in School, 9-21. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483350363.n2

#2

Milaine Garcia

St. Thomas University

NUR 417 AP 2

Instructor Yedelis Diaz

December 1, 2022

 

Grief

        Different people deal with the loss of a loved one or other item in different ways. Loss is a typical aspect of age and existence. Different losses are encountered as one ages. To age successfully, one must develop coping mechanisms for these losses. Over time, these emotional upheavals can cause disorientation, mental cloudiness, and detachment (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). Grief is a person's unique emotional reaction to a loss, whether it is actual, impending, or perceived. Grieving is a common response to loss. Numerous losses occur with age or chronic illnesses, each of which sets out grieving reactions. Physical symptoms, social reactions, and spiritual responses are some of the reactions (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). Physical signs can include sobbing, decreasing appetite, and experiencing an empty feeling in the stomach. Additionally, the individual may experience low energy levels or sleeping problems. Other effects could be a decrease in weight, a gain in weight, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.

        The most frequent emotion experienced in terms of psychological and social responses is sadness (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). Additionally, sorrow and shame over the relationship with the individual may come to mind. After the loss of a significant person, older individuals may experience confusion and a lack of focus (O’Connor, 2019). Depending on the type of connection, several social changes might happen after the loss of a loved one. In times of sadness, religion and spirituality can act as calming forces (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). A person may feel a sense of belonging to a community of people who support one another through their religious institution.

        There are different types of grief experienced. It is generally accepted that anticipatory grief and the accompanying reactions are normal (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). This sort of grief is characterized as grieving that begins prior to the actual loss. It intensifies as death approaches and comes to an end when it actually happens. Grief that is disenfranchised is the kind that is not acknowledged or validated by others. The inability to express oneself openly and the lack of social support make this challenging. Complicated mourning or abnormal grief is when one does not move to resolution when grieving and is unhealthy.

        Different cultures have their own views and practices regarding death. For instance, the loss of an elderly adult may be mourned more in Asian American society than the loss of a baby or young child (O’Connor, 2019). For white people, losing a child may be more painful than losing an adult. Suicide is frowned upon by some cultural and religious groups, and they may even punish those who commit it long after they pass away. The nurse should be conscious of the possibility that culture will have an impact on the decision regarding the deceased's ultimate resting place (Meiner & Yeager, 2019).  Nurses need to be mindful and respect the cultural choices and behaviors of patients and their family members at the time of grief. This will not only benefit the individual but also the nurse in the case.

 

References

Meiner, S. E., & Yeager, J. J. (2019). Gerontologic nursing (6th ed.). Elsevier.

O’Connor, M. F. (2019). Grief: A brief history of research on how body, mind, and brain adapt. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(8), 731–738. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0000000000000717