Bereavement

Bereavement refers to the experience of losing a loved one through death and the ensuing period of mourning, adjustment, and coping. It encompasses emotional responses, physical symptoms, cognitive changes, and social shifts as individuals reevaluate their lives without the deceased. Grief is the internal process of interpreting and reacting to loss, while bereavement describes the broader state or period of being bereaved.

Reactions vary widely and include sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, and yearning. Sleep disturbance, changes in appetite, concentration problems, and fatigue are common. The duration and intensity differ and are influenced by factors such as the relationship to the deceased, circumstances of death, social support, and prior experiences with loss.

Rituals, memorials, and social support networks can aid adaptation. Cultural and religious beliefs shape mourning practices and expectations for behavior during bereavement.

Most people recover gradually, but some experience complicated or prolonged grief, characterized by persistent longing, identity disruption, or impairment lasting beyond six months or a year. Such cases may benefit from mental health support, therapy, or bereavement groups.

Common coping approaches include maintaining routines, seeking social support, expressing emotions, writing or memorializing, and self-care. People facing sudden or traumatic loss, the loss of a child, or multiple losses may require targeted support.

Bereavement leave and other workplace accommodations can assist with logistical and emotional adjustment after a death.

The field includes various theoretical models of grief, such as the stages framework and the dual process model, which highlights oscillation between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented tasks. No single model fits everyone.