Summary: <p>Complicated Grief<br> Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP<br> Podcast Host: Counselor Toolbox and Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery<br> Objectives<br> ~ Define Complicated Grief<br> ~ Examine the impact of CG<br> ~ Identify risk factors for CG<br> ~ Explore tasks for successful grief resolution<br> Definitions:<br> ~ Loss: Change that includes being without someone or something; physical loss of something tangible like a person, a car, a house, a breast; psychosocial loss of something intangible like a divorce, an illness, a job, a dream, a hope.<br> ~ Bereavement: comes from the same Latin root word as “to have been robbed….” i.e. to have experienced loss.<br> ~ Secondary loss: Other losses as a result of a primary loss. Example, loss of income when bread winner dies.<br> ~ Grief: Reaction or response to loss; includes physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions.<br> ~ Mourning: Rituals or behaviors associated with grief; i.e. courses of action in response to loss. Rando, Complicated Mourning, p. 22.</p> <p>Complicated Grief<br> ~ Symptoms<br> ~ Separation distress involving intrusive, distressing preoccupation with the deceased<br> ~ Traumatic stress reflecting specific ways the person was traumatized by the death<br> ~ Avoidance of reminders<br> ~ Intrusive painful thoughts<br> ~ Emotional numbing<br> ~ Irritability<br> ~ Feelings of hopelessness and purposelessness<br> ~ Shattered self identity<br> ~ Failure to assimilate the loss can create an identity crisis and problems with self-regulation<br> ~ Who am I if I am not John’s wife/Sally’s mother?<br> ~ Who is there to protect me now that both of my parents are gone?<br> Complicated Grief<br> ~ Complicated grief can be reliably identified by administering the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) more than 6 months after the death of a loved one.<br> What exactly are we talking about?<br> ~ There is significant overlap between grief and trauma<br> ~ In one study, 53% of participants had significant elevations in trauma symptoms<br> ~ Losing a therapist or discharge could trigger past CG reactions<br> ~ The first and most pressing question in a crisis is: What just happened?<br> ~ Immediately following is the question: How can I manage right now?<br> ~ Finally, the larger questions of grief and meaning are formulated.<br> Grief Takes Time<br> ~ Whole first year is one loss after another<br> ~ Beware of special occasions and holidays all year<br> ~ Uncomplicated mourning is normally 2-3 years<br> ~ Complicated mourning may be a 5-7 year process.<br> ~ Grief continues for a lifetime through major life milestones.<br> Grief impacts us holistically…<br> Physical responses:<br> ~ Appetite (eating) disturbances<br> ~ Energy, fatigue, lethargy<br> ~ Sleep disturbance<br> ~ Cold (especially for children)<br> ~ Anxiety (sweating, trembling, etc.)<br> ~ Gastrointestinal disturbance<br> ~ Compromised immune response; increased illness</p> <p>Intellectual<br> ~ Confusion; “What is real?”<br> ~ Difficulty concentrating; ex. Read the same page several times<br> ~ Short attention span; ex. Can’t finish a 30 minute TV program<br> ~ Difficulty learning new material; short term memory loss; ex. Income taxes<br> ~ Difficulty making decisions<br> ~ Lack of a sense of purpose<br> ~ Inability to find meaning in the events and life itself</p> <p>Social…<br> ~ Withdrawal<br> ~ Isolation<br> ~ Searching<br> ~ Avoidance<br> ~ Irritability<br> ~ Self absorption<br> ~ Clinging/dependence<br> Emotional…<br> ~ Angry<br> ~ Depressed<br> ~ Sad<br> ~ Crying<br> ~ Irritable<br> ~ Afraid<br> ~ Can’t go on<br> ~ Death anxiety<br> ~ Lonely<br> ~ Relieved/Guilty/Regretful<br> Spiritual beliefs are challenged…<br> ~ The question “Why” reverberates<br> ~ Where was God?<br> ~ If God is all powerful, why allow this?<br> ~ If God loves me,</p>
