Personal Loss: Bereavement and Grief

Personal Loss: Bereavement and Grief

Introduction

When someone loses a loved one, a close relative or even a friend, there is always some sort of an emotion that strikes in respond to that loss. However, these emotions and feelings are not the same for everyone; it differs from one individual to another and depends primarily on the relation with how the relationship with the lost one was. The loss is not necessarily of a human being, it could be any challenge faced by the individual, such as losing a job or getting divorce. Basically, anything that is personal and is considered as a personal loss. Various emotions are triggered after any sort of personal loss and a few are discussed below.

Bereavement

Bereavement is simply defined as the condition when something we are very close or attached to is taken away. The word bereavement comes from an ancient German root word which means 'to rob.' Quite often, bereavement is interchanged with mourning and grief, where as, they have different meanings. The loss is not pre defined; there are several factors that lead to bereavement such as loss of status, employment, possessions and most commonly loved ones.

Uncomplicated Bereavement

In uncomplicated bereavement, even though the emotions and feelings are almost the same as bereavement like shock and disbelief, the difference lies in how quickly the individual accepts the loss. The first step that takes around two weeks includes the bereaved person finally accepting the reality of the loss or demise faced. However the state of depression might stretch to six months in some cases.

Grief

Grief is the emotional response. Grief also, like bereavement can be caused by any kind of loss, maybe the loss of home, possessions or a loved one. Even though grief is termed as an emotional response it ...