"There are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment- to live, to love, to learn and to leave a legacy".

WHAT IS LOSS?

Leaving home Illness-Loss of health-becoming disabled Death of a pet Change of job Leaving home/going to Uni. Leaving school Physical ability Financial ability Personal belongings Giving birth to a disabled child? Divorce/separation

• Leaving home
• Illness/loss of health/become disabled
• Death of a pet
• Change of job
• Move to a new home
• Graduation from school
• Loss of physical ability
• Loss of Financial security, personal belongings
• Giving birth to a disabled child
• Divorce/separation

DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOSS - LOSS IS VERY PERSONAL

• Close friend
• Partner
• Classmate,colleague
• Serious illness
• Breakup
• Family member

DISCUSS!

• Sudden vs Predictable
• How long does grief last?

POSSIBLE REACTIONS

• Feel like you are going crazy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sad/depressed
• Irritability/angry
• Frustration or misunderstood
• Anxiety, nervousness or fearfulness
• Urge to escape
• Ambivalence/feeling numb
• Lack energy/motivation

BOWLBY AND PARKES 4 STAGE

• Shock and disbelief
• Searching and learning
• Disorganisation and despair
• Rebuilding and healing

WILLIAM WORDEN 1992

• Task one. To accept the reality of the loss
• Task two. To work through the pain and grief
• Task three. To adjust to an environment in which the deceased is missing
• Task four. To emotionally relocate the deceased and move on with life.

KUBLER ROSS STAGES OF DYING

• Not Linear-No Order
• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

COPING-INDIVIDUAL

• Talk to family/friends,seek counselling, read books, engage in social activities, exercise, eat healthily, seek spiritual support, relax, join a support group, listen to music, be patient with yourself, let yourself 'feel' the grief

SUPPORTING OTHER WHO ARE GRIEVING

• Be a good listener
• Ask about their feelings
• Just sit with them
• Share your feelings
• Ask about their loss
• Remember the loss
• Make telephone calls
• Acknowledge the pain
• Let them feel sad
• Be available when you can
• Do not minimise grief
• Talk about your own losses

Untitled Slide

• "You will lose someone you can't live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn't seal back up. And you come through. Nits like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly- that still hurts when the weather gets cold , but you learn to dance with the limp."
• (Anne Lamott).