The authors suggest that the grieving process is more like an oscillating pendulum than a slow, linear progression, and suggest practical steps to take to work through the grief brought about by the death of a loved one.
Practical recommendations include actively seeking out enjoyable experiences, rather than succumbing to the downward spiral of inactivity and depression.
Although the article aims to offer an alternative to a model of grief that may not work for everyone, it is in danger of implying that grief can be solved, and that it is up to each individual to bring themselves out of it.
Working in hospice and palliative care, we know that grieving is an extremely unique and intensely complex process, and it is important to recognise that, while these ‘solutions’ may work for some people, others may need continued understanding and patience as they work through their grief over months, years or decades.
ehospice welcomes your comments on this issue. Log in to leave a comment, Tweet @ehospicenews or email the editor to share your views.
Read ‘Proactive advice for dealing with grief: seek out new experiences‘ on The Wall Street Journal Website.
Leave a Reply