Supporting People Facing Loss

This essay focuses on providing care and support to individuals facing loss and grief, specifically related to serious illness such as cancer. It discusses the grief process, issues related to specific types of loss, coping mechanisms, and the role of helpers in providing support.

Supporting People
Facing Loss

It is very painful for individual to loose someone or someone they love as it will results in
experiencing all the difficulties as well as emotions (Coping with Grief and Loss. 2016). Grief is
a natural consequence to the loss that has been suffered by an individual. Thus, it is essential to
provide care and support to the individual who are bereaved so that they may recover from the
grief. Presently, the essay focuses on specific type of loss to an individual which is related with
serious illness of their beloved one. The chosen illness through which individual suffer the loss
is cancer. The individual was aware regarding the serious illness of his beloved one that she is
suffering from non curable disease and it results in causing death after sometime. Further it will
also covers normal and complicated grief reaction of the individual related with the specific loss.
Lastly, the essay will also conclude different role of helpers that may provide support to the
person those who are experiencing the losses.
Grief and grief process
Grief refers to the varied responses that is provided by an individual on the loss or death
of their beloved one. It is also defined as an emotional or affective result of the specific loss it
mainly outcome in behavioural change of an individual as well as change in their mindset
(Dealing with grief and loss. 2016). The reaction of grief mainly result in form of anger or
crying. It is significant to support the individual or person who is experiencing the loss situation.
The loss situation focuses on serious illness of beloved one as she was suffering from non
curable disease that is cancer. Thus, to overcome the grief related with this of their beloved one
individual goes through a grief process. As per the view of Young (2016) process indicates how
individual will go through each of the stages and results in overcoming the situation of loss. The
first phase in the grief process is denial in which individual is in the shock state as well as also
have disbelief regarding the loss. Subsequently, through experiencing that spouse has cancer, it
results in numbness which is experienced by the person facing loss. As, the individual is aware
regarding the facet that illness of beloved is incurable in nature. According to Blackman (2016)
second level is anger that is defined as an consequence of denial state it may be expressed
towards the family or other individual. It also increases the frustration level of individual who is
experiencing anger. Third stage within the process is depression that is connected with grief-
stricken related with the loss of someone very special. Depression effect in sadness and regret
that results in spending less time with others. On the other hand, another effect of depression is

feeling isolated or excluding themselves from the others. Fourth stage is bargaining that centres
upon enabling constant dialogue to determine the several ways that support individual from the
losses. The last stage is acceptance under which individual explores the new ideas as well as
options so that they can further move on in the life. It results in coping with the loss through
resisting the process of grief.
The issues related to specific type of loss
Loss is consider as unavoidable facets of life that results in arising different issues that
will impact the individual behaviour. According to Walter, Mc Coyd and Walter (2015) basically
there are two type of losses that mainly occurs in the individual lives which is sudden as well as
predictable losses. Sudden loss may be due to certain activities or events related with accidents
or traumatic illness that ultimately results in death of an individual. With the sudden loss it may
result in severe reaction that is distressing thoughts, moods, social isolation or increasing anxiety
issues. On the other hand, another is predictable losses that are owed to terminal illness. It allows
an individual to get prepare for the losses that is going to be occurred. The specific type of loss
that is faced by an individual is related cancer that has results in deterioration of their health.
The foremost issue related to the specific type of loss which is serious illness of close one
results in arising communication issues. For instance, individual suffering cancer will not able to
communicate their wish or thought with the individual as they are aware regarding the fact the
they are not going to live in the future. Along with this, person that is experiencing the loss will
also face communication issue as they are not in the stable mindset thus, they may avoid to
communicate with the patient. The individual facing loss will feel helpless as he is unable to do
anything to cure the disease of his beloved. In addition to this, individual experiencing the loss of
their beloved sickness they may face this issue as they are not in the condition to communicate
properly with them. As per the view of Brion, Menke and Kimball (2013) with this specific type
of loss individual also faces guidance issues. At this phase individual experiencing losses face
issue that include what to expect in terms of their own emotional reactions, to whom to will seek
support, to whom they will share their memories as well as emotions, and what to anticipate
when they are going to meet the dying beloved one and family members. Thus, guidance issue is
related with the specific type of losses.

On the other hand, Rolls (2013) has also stated that for this loss individual may also
experience the role issues. For instance, in a family father is suffering from the severe disease
that is non-curable in such situation Mother need to fulfil the responsibilities of both father as
well as mother. The mother will play dual role that act as the major issue for the individual. Thus
if both the role are not executed in the successful manner then in such situation it may results in
arising the issue. Thus, role issue sometime may lead to non-accomplishment of their own role.
With this type of loss individual also faces issue related with disruption in their family.
The serious illness of close one results in breaking the family for instance, through considering
the above example individual suffering from the illness is head of family that results in breaking
up their family as it change the overall mindset of the individual.
Coping with grief and loss
Coping with loss is a universal human experience and how a person deals with their
losses is set within the context of the society and culture they live in. When people experience
loss related to illness or injury evidence informed guidance recognises that coping with both non-
bereavement and bereavement loss, has a significant impact not only to the individual but on
families. There are different ways through which individual can easily cope up with the grief and
loss situation. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the physical and emotional requirement that
will assist in overcoming the difficult time period of loss. As per the view of Pretorius and Ross
(2014) to easily cope up with the grief and loss individual those who are experiencing it may
face their feeling. For healing the grief and situation of loss they must acknowledge their feeling.
On the other hand, for overcoming the grief and loss individual may easily look after their
physical health as the mindset and body are interconnect with each other. For instance, if the
individual is emotionally tired then in such situation they would not maintain their good health as
it will directly impact their physical health. Accordant with Grief (2014) individual also use
social media for gaining support as well as it also assist the individual to cope up with the grief
and loss situation.
Normal and complicated grief reactions related with loss
From the above type of loss which is associated with serious illness of their beloved one;
person who is experiencing the loss may give different reactions. The grief reaction must focuses
on two types that normal and complicated reaction related with loss. According to Wilson (2014)

with the serious sickness of beloved one the normal grief reaction of individual results in feeling
sad or getting in depression as they will feel depressed that he is unable to medicate their beloved
one. Wknowing that beloved one is suffering from cancer may make the spouse feel depressed
as he may not be able to live without his wife. In addition to this, another grief reaction of
individual also results in attaining difficulty in concentrating among their work (Coping with
Grief and Loss. 2016). Individual may think about their beloved one who is suffering from
serious disease will hamper their other activities and work. It is also consider as a normal grief
reaction related with the loss of their beloved one from the serious diseases. Likewise, Collins
and, et.al (2014) has also stated that normal grief reaction related with loss will also experience
the fear and anxiety. The significant loss of beloved one from the serious illness results in
hosting the worries and fear. Individual experience the loss may feel anxious as well as helpless
as they are not in the position to overcome the illness of their beloved one. Along with this,
serious illness related with cancer of beloved one also triggers the fear regarding individual's
own insecurity related with facing different aspect of life alone in the future. In addition to this,
normal reaction affiliated with the grief also results in profound sadness within the person who
has experienced the loss. With the death of their beloved one as she was suffering from
dangerous disease cancer, individual may have belief or thought related with deep loneliness. As,
in the situation of death individual have to live their life along without their partner that results is
despair or yearning. Along with this reaction may also include crying a lot and feeling
emotionally unstable.
As per the view of Winstanley-Chesters (2016) it is normal for an individual who is
experiencing loss to feel sad, numb or helpless. After sometime the feeling become less intense
as they accept the loss and move on in their lives. On the other hand, if individual do not accept
the loss then it may results in developing grief into serious problem that outcome in physical
problem, accepting death or state of depression. It may also define as a complicated grief that is
individual stuck in provoked state of bereaving. Oliveira (2016) has stated that complicated grief
reaction related with the loss also results in harming self as they are in the high state of mourning
that results in bruising self. Along with this, complicated grief reaction also outcome in intense
sorrow and pain while thinking of their beloved one. Individual only focuses on the seriousness
as well as illness of their close one that will change their mindset and behaviour. In addition to

this, complicated grief reaction of individual experiencing loss also face stress and highly
depressed situation that results in numbness, social exclusion from the event and family outing
etc. at the same time Rubinstein (2014) has also stated that individual with complicated grief
reaction due to loss may also consider suicide activity. This destructive grief reaction is
accompanied with the death of their beloved one as they will feel that their life holds no meaning
without their close one. Individual have attachment with their beloved that results in arising these
type of reaction. Furthermore Chen, Tsang and Chan (2014) has also stated that there are certain
other complicated grief reaction of an individual that depicts intense hungriness as well as
yearning for their beloved one as she is suffering from the non-curable disease that is cancer. The
complicated grief reaction of individual also results in denial the death of their beloved one,
individual feels that their loved one is alive. In addition to this, complicated grief reaction also
ensure stating that life is bare or meaningless without their close one. As per the view of Young
(2016) complicated grief reaction related with loss of beloved one also ensure individual
searching for the deceased person within the places. Along with this it will also review and
flashback the thoughts and images of their beloved one. Similarly, complicated grief reaction
related with loss will also experience in suffering from physical symptoms that mainly include
digestive problem as individual experiences loss is not eating properly that directly impact their
body. Along with this physical grounds of grief reaction also include headaches as well as chest
pain from the death of beloved one by the cancer. Thus, Blackman (2016) has said that
complicated grief reaction arouse in the situation when individual have problem in accepting the
death of their beloved one. It disrupts the daily activities and functions of individual and it also
undermines their other relationships.
The role of range of helpers that provide support to person experiencing loss
In order to provide support to person who is experiencing loss there are several range of
helpers that support them to heal their loss. The foremost helper that provide support to person
those who are experiencing loss of their beloved one is their family members. They are the one
those who are ready to give moral as well as emotional support to the individual so that they may
heal their loss and allow them to overcome the grief situation. As per the view of Walter, Mc
Coyd and Walter (2015) the role of family members plays significant role in delivering care and
support to person through providing them proper guidance and counselling so that they may

overcome grief and bereavement of deceased person. Along with this, family provides the
individual an effective environment so that they may not think about their beloved one who has
been suffering from the serious illness that is cancer. Moral support provided by family members
will support the person in starting their new life and heal their grief. Furthermore, friend zone
also support the person to come forward from the loss and begin their new life. It may also
overcome the stress and frustration level of person through providing them comfortable
environment and surrounding. According to Brion, Menke and Kimball (2013) person
experiencing the loss of their beloved one may face high depression that results in health related
problem. Thus, nurses or care worker will support them in providing medication and proper
treatment so that they may defeat the depression level within the individual. The role of care
worker is essential as it provide support to person experiencing losses through allowing them
proper services so that they may get over the depression. On the other hand, counsellor also plays
pivotal role in providing support to person those who are experiencing losses. The counsellor
will focus on the assessing the loss that individual has recently experienced with the loss related
with death of their beloved one. The selected grief counsellor understand normal as well as
complicated grief reaction of an individual so that they may provide guidance accordant with
that. Along with this, counsellor also plays vital role as it support the family and individual to
navigate the different stages and phases of grief. Furthermore, Retamero, Walsh and Otero-Perez
(2014) has also stated that therapist also plays significant role in providing support to person
experiencing loss situation. The role played by therapist involve providing them support through
allowing focusing on their exercising so that they may easily overcome the negative mind of
state. Although the role of therapist also provide support to the individual through their intense
emotions and defeat the barrier related with grief. In addition to this, Rolls (2013) also states that
joining support group will provide help to individual who is experiencing the loss. Thus, it is said
that joining the support group or sharing their sorrow with any other person results in reducing
the loss situation. Along with this, it also provide support to an individual to overcome their loss.
Moreover, social worker also plays significant role in providing support to the individual those
who are suffering from the losses that is death of their beloved one by cancer. The role played by
social worker is effective as it assists in counselling and providing direction to the individual so
that they can move forward in their life.

Another range of helper include psychologists; They are the trained individual that
deliver services to assist people to easily deal and handle their fear, guiltiness as well as anxiety
that is connected with their serious illness of their beloved one. With the serious illness is results
in causing death of their beloved one as she was suffering from incurable diseases. Thus, if
individual need to deal with their grief through managing the loss. This can be done through
consulting psychologist or any professional so that individual not suffer from any mental
disorder from losing their consult with a psychologist or other licensed mental health
professional (Grief, Loss, and Bereavement. 2016). Psychologists can help people build their
resilience and develop strategies to get through their sadness. Practising psychologists use a
variety of evidence-based treatments most commonly psychotherapy to help people improve
their lives. Psychologists, who have doctoral degrees, receive one of the highest levels of
education of any health care professional.
From the above essay it is concluded that it is essential to support individual those who
are experience loss related to illness or injury evidence informed guidance recognises that coping
with both non-bereavement and bereavement loss, has a significant impact not only to the
individual but on families and society. Along with this, essay also conclude the role of range of
helpers the provide effective support to individual those who are experiencing the losses related
with death of their beloved from serious disease that is cancer.

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