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Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service (Hospice & Palliative Care)

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• Understanding and Responding to Loss

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Phases of Grief

• Shock
• Emotional release
• Denial
• Depression, loneliness and utter isolation
• Panic guilt feelings
• Hostility
• Difficulty in renewing normal activities
• Gradual overcoming of grief
• Readjustment to new circumstances

Normal Reactions in Grief

While grief is a normal response to loss, it sometimes involves reactions which can be alarming. Each person grieves in his or her own way. However, the following reactions are commonly associated with grief.

• Anger (God, medical personnel, self, loved one, those not understanding)
• Irritability
• Unpredictable, uncontrollable crying
• Frustration with family/friends
• Difficulty sleeping
• Sleeping all the time
• Change in eating habits
• Loss of motivation
• Fearful/panic attacks
• Feeling guilty
• Feelings of “aloneness” and “loneliness”
• Looking for a “fight”