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Why study bereavement?

For a caregiver, it is most important to study the usual phases of bereavement because he/she will find him/herself associated with bereavement when caring for dying patients: family and friends will express psychological and emotional reactions to the loss of their loved one.

In his/her personal life, as every human being, he/she will suffer losses therefore bereavement which he/she will have to go through whilst continuing to work as a carer. Through knowledge of normal physiological reactions to bereavement (grief), the caregiver will be more capable of facing reality and of asking for advice and psychological care if necessary.

Bereavement is a normal physiological process involving physical, psychological, emotional and behavioural reactions related to the loss of a loved one (but also potentially a loved pet, an object, a tradition, a job).

Comparison can be made between bereavement and another physiological repair process: wound healing.

When the wound is produced, there is an acute shock: pain comes after the blow and we often observe astonishment or even denial of the reality of the wound.

Then the wound remains open: bleeding occurs with no immediate reaction, but involving intense physical pain complicated by sudden painful outbursts,

Then the healing phase begins: a dressing is set; healing begins although the wound may still bleed if irritated. A first intention scar is obtained.

Then an adaptive phase begins with the wound becoming supple and often almost disappearing. However, and particularly when the injured person is older, sequelae pain may persist for years.

We will briefly study:

The bereavement steps,

The psychic elaboration of bereavement,

Pathological bereavement,

And will offer some advice for facilitating caregivers bereavement.