Scope of Responding to Grief
The following list mentions the wide range of normal responses you may have after a loss or change in your life. Some responses may be immediate and of short duration, while others may only appear after weeks and months. It is helpful to learn about your personal response to loss and change and to recognize that each person responds differently to each loss and change they experience.
| Mental | Physical | Emotional | Behavioral |
| Overwhelmed | Exhaustion | Courage | Restlessness |
| Hostility | Nausea | Resilience | Avoid Reminders |
| Hallucinations | Sleep Disturbances | Helplessness | Overactive |
| Absentminded | Numbness | Irritable/resentment | Cling to reminders |
| Denial of loss | Dry mouth | Intense sadness | Changes in sexual activity |
| Confusion | Chest pains | Fear | Crying |
| Depression | TMJ | Joy | Dreams |
| Preoccumation | Appetite changes | Overwhelmed | Visit places |
| Self-destructive thoughts | Headaches | Shock | Disposal of belongings |
| Avoidance | Dizziness | Low self-esteem | Increased sensitivity |
| Question values | Agitation | Peace | Need for touch |
| Barganing | Digestive difficulties | Numbness | Searching |
| Inability to focus | Hyperactivity | Gratitude/relief | Adventuring |
| Shock | Nervous energy | Mood swings | Use transitional objects |
| Disbelief | Heart pounding | Anxiety | Pick up deceased’s mannerisms |
| Sensing the deceased | Noise sensitivity | Vulnerability | Addictions |
| Problems making decisions | Increase in physical illness | Increase/decrease in all feelings | |
| Relief | Skin sensitivity | Anger | |
| Think you are going crazy | Shortness of breath | Guilt | |
| Love | |||
| Fragility | |||
| All cried out | |||
|
Social
|
Spiritual |
| Need for support of friends and family | Dreams |
| Withdrawal from friends and family | Visions |
|
Isolation
|
Visitations |
| Increased dependency | Despair |
| Need to act normal | Abandonment |
| Need for normalcy | Increase or decrease in faith/questions |
|
Relationship difficulties: romantic, friendship, family
|
Forgiveness |
| Hypersensitivity to topics of loss | Belief in miracles |
| Need for rituals/routines | Curiosity about meaning/purpose of life/death |
| Changes in social status | Question long held beliefs and values |
| Role change | Question meaning of pain and suffering |
| Role reversals | Anger at God or faith |
| Spiritual rituals no longer have meaning | |
| Illness/death seen as punishment |
This infrormation came from HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield County. Phone: 303-449-7740, info@hospicecareonline.org, www.hospicecareonline.org.
