Bereavement refers to the state of having experienced the loss of a loved one.
It most often refers to the time after a loss when emotions are at their most profound.
This time is marked by intense grief and tremendous sorrow.
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The term is sometimes used synonymously with grief and mourning.
How people experience this time of grief can vary from one person to the next.
While bereavement is usually associated with death, it can also occur afterother significant losses.
It’s important to remember that this is a normal reaction to loss.
If your feelings continue longer than normal, then you might be experiencing prolonged or complicated grief.
The DSM-5 removed what was known as the “bereavement exclusion” from the diagnosis of major depression.
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What Causes Bereavement?
Bereavement is a response to loss.
This is known asdisenfranchised grief.
Types of Bereavement
Everyone experiences bereavement and grief differently.
However, it often follows a predictable pattern that is often characterized as a normal response to loss.
However, she later adapted these stages to apply to other types of grief as well.
Complicated Grief
Bereavement is painful and can be exhausting.
Some people, however, experience a more persistent form of bereavement that is known ascomplicated grief.
This condition is calledprolonged grief disorder(PGD).
Someone with prolonged grief disorder will find that their thoughts are preoccupied with the person they lost.
The symptoms of PGD are disruptive to everyday life.
There is some controversy surrounding the pathologizing of grief into some form of mental illness.
For people who are struggling to cope, professional help may be beneficial.
A sudden, unexpected, ortraumaticloss can also affect how people cope in the aftermath.
In such cases, consider seeking professional help.
Takeaways
Bereavement is normal after you’ve experienced a loss.
You may cycle between various stages of grief that gradually lessen with time.
In cases where grief is intense or long-lasting, therapy and medication may help.
If you struggle to cope, caring for yourself and reaching out to others for support are vital.
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