Comparison and Contrast between Complicated Grief, Normal Bereavement and Anticipatory Grief

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY 1
Mental Health and Counseling Psychology
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MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY 2
Abstract
Old adults experience severe health deterioration upon bereavement and grief, as
compared to young adults. Bereavement happens when a person loses a loved one through death,
either accidental or natural. Grief accompanies bereavement. Under normal circumstances,
individuals resume to their routine lives after losing a loved one; a state called normal
bereavement. If the individual experiences severe health adversity, then he is considered to
experience complicated grief which tends to last for a longer period before resuming to his daily
life activities. However, if a person undergoes grief due to the expectation that a loved one may
die, he is experiencing anticipated grief (Fuertes, Spokane & Holloway, 2012). Therefore, there
are significant differences and similarities among normal bereavement, complicated grief and
anticipated grief. This paper aims to contrast and compare the three phenomena. It also
highlights the treatment of each, as well as the outcomes.
Introduction
Bereavement refers to the state of losing a loved one due to death. Adults above the age
of 65 commonly experience bereavement. Grief is an individual’s response to bereavement loss.
It is the normal process in which an individual reacts to the loss. A person may experience
reactions of grief as a result of physical losses such as death, or symbolic losses such as divorce
and loss of employment. Bereavement describes the period after experiencing a loss (Fuertes,
2012).
Comparison and Contrast between Complicated Grief, Normal Bereavement and
Anticipatory Grief.
a. Normal Bereavement

MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY 3
Normal bereavement is a typical reaction in human beings. Normal bereavement does not
have a set period for which it should last, due to the unique nature of each loss and every person.
Normal bereavement can be too much for some people, making them experience clinical
depression that requires clinical diagnosis and treatment. Clinicians giving care to the old adults
must understand that various adverse outcomes accompany normal bereavement. Losing a
beloved one leads to poor health, loss of weight, appetite loss, functional impairment and
increased infection with diseases (Rowland & Goss, 2013).
Bereavement also increases the mortality risk in the early period following the death
event. For instance, there is a high link between the increased rate of mortality and first death
causes such as suicide, cancer, heart disease, and accidents. There is high mortality among
spouses who get bereaved by unexpected deaths. The rate is higher among individuals with high
incomes. Additionally, there is a significant link between normal bereavement and social
changes as well as emotional factors among old adults, such as decreased satisfaction, social
isolation and increased loneliness (Kraus, Stricker & Speyer, 2010).
b. Complicated Grief
While normal bereavement has a temporally effect on individuals upon the death of their
loved ones, complicated grief has long-lasting effects on individuals. The grief hardly dissipates
with time passage and the survivors hardly resume their normal routines and lives. Their
responses to bereavement do not disappear over time, thus impairing and preventing them from
leading healthy lives before the death loss (Metz, 2016). Various characteristics of complicated
grief include:
i. Irritation, anger or age episodes.