Introduction
Individuals go through traumatic experiences when people with whom they have close relationships pass away. Death can have life-changing effects on the bereaved if proper support is not administered on time. Numerous studies have shown that unresolved, complicated, prolonged, and/or traumatic grief can potentially be detrimental to both the mental and physical health of the bereaved. This paper presents a reflection of the traumatic experiences faced by George following the demise of his ailing mother with a view of identifying the correct measures he underwent. It also indicates better approaches that should have been employed to help his bereavement.
Personal Reflection
According to the model of continuing bonds, grief resolution entails the ongoing relationships between the deceased and bereaved (Maccallum et al. 2015). Natural disasters such as death affect people in a number of ways. These effects can either be short-term or long-term stressors that influence the individual’s wellbeing. Bereaved individuals need to be provided with the right resources and responses to help them accept the reality in addition to buffering the grief that sometimes results in extreme short-term effects. A vast body of research shows that at times the affected persons can develop long-term and stubborn psychological distress (Garstang, Griffiths, & Sidebotham 2014). Pervasive mental difficulties can occur following mass deaths involving numerous people who are closely related. Sudden deaths have the potential of disrupting people’s lives including work schedules. Sometimes, working people are forced to take work leave to deal with emerging issues of sudden demise. Sudden death can cause deep grief that can manifest through sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness, fatigue, helplessness, shock, numbness, and emancipation. Numerous community-based programs help bereaved people accept the situation and move on with life.
Most people naturally heal from grief. They do so by integrating their experiences of loss and bereavement. Various avenues can offer bereavement care and services (Maccallum et al. 2015). The specialists undertaking these programs should learn the level of trauma experienced by the affected individuals in a bid to offer the best counseling and care. In addition, the programs should work towards eluding mortality and morbidity associated with the death of closely-related people. However, the need for consulting care services such as those offered at religious organizations, family, and community members (Green 2013). The significance of seeking care services from such organizations can be shown by the fact that unresolved and non-integrated bereavement can lead to chronic depression (Maccallum et al. 2015). The worst impact of unresolved grief is the development of a clinically significant syndrome referred to as complicated, traumatic, or prolonged grief disorder.
Death forms a part of the humanly unacceptable facts in the world. For some people, it is inevitable and anticipated (Garstang, Griffiths, & Sidebotham 2014). It is highly unacceptable among close people as it separates the loved ones (Green 2013). Children often undergo traumatizing situations following the death of their parents. This situation is seen in the case of George who loses his mother. Similarly, parents can be equally grieved upon the demise of their loved children. Whatever the direction of the impact, the local leaders should guide people towards the acceptance and progression with life.
Conclusion
Death is an inevitable reality that confronts people. Today, people have failed to comprehend this phenomenon, especially when someone known to them continues supporting and growing flowers. For some people, death results in watered points whose importance cannot be underestimated. Whatever the cause of death, the affected should show the best bereavement care and activities.
References
Garstang, J, Griffiths, F & Sidebotham, P 2014, ‘What do bereaved parents want from professionals after the sudden death of their child: a systematic review of the literature’, BMC pediatrics, vol. 14 no. 1, pp. 269.
Green, D 2013, ‘A shoulder to cry on: support through bereavement’, Nursing & Residential Care, vol. 15 no. 2, pp. 68.
Maccallum, F, Sawday, S, Rinck, M & Bryant, R 2015, ‘The push and pull of grief: Approach and avoidance in bereavement’, Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, vol. 48 no. 1, pp. 105-109.