Bereavement may be defined as:
A. The emotional response to loss.
B. The outward, social expression of loss.
C. Postponing the awareness of the reality of the loss.
D. The inner feeling and outward reactions of the survivor.
Correct Answer: D. The inner feeling and outward reactions of the survivor.
Bereavement is the state of loss when someone close to an individual has died. The death of a loved one is one of the greatest sorrows that can occur in one’s life. People’s responses to grief will vary depending upon the circumstances of the death, but grief is a normal, healthy response to loss. Feelings of bereavement can also accompany other losses, such as the decline of one’s health or the health of a close other, or the end of an important relationship.
Option A: Grief is the psychological, physical, and emotional experience and reaction to loss. People may experience grief in various ways, but several theories, such as Kübler-Ross stages of loss theory, attempt to explain and understand the way people deal with grief.
Option B: Physical expressions of grief may include poor sleep, aches and pains, weakness and fatigue, loss of appetite, more crying, and other stress-related symptoms. Emotional expressions of grief may include feels of sadness, numbness, anger, fear, irritability, guilt, regret, and loneliness.
Option C: Talk about death. This will help the surviving individuals understand what happened and remember the deceased in a positive way. When coping with death, it can be easy to get wrapped up in denial, which can lead to isolation and a lack of a solid support system.