Supporting Families including Grief and Hopelessness

 

Case: Max, is a 12 year old boy whose father died about 5 years ago. His father experienced periodic depression throughout his life. After his father’s death, Max displayed tantrums and more aggression towards his toys and friends. Max has a sad expression and seems empty even in a room full of people and excitement. 

Grief is not a mental disorder, it is a natural response to the loss of a loved one. Because the grieving process is so individualized and personal, everyone processes and experiences loss in their own unique way. Some people may feel better within a few weeks, while others may need years. Grief, unexpectedly, can make a person feel increasingly weak and hopeless over time. (CAMH, n.d)

Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief

A patient-focused pattern on the Stages of Grief

Stage 1) Denial

Stage 2) Anger

Stage 3) Bargaining

Stage 4) Depression

Stage 5) Acceptance

(Kelly, 2022)

Coping With Grief

Feel Your Loss 

Allow the patient to cry, to feel numb, to be angry, or to feel however you’re feeling. It hurts, but it’s natural and normal.

Attend to the patient's physical needs. Get enough sleep, eat a well-balanced diet, and exercise regularly.

Express your Feelings 

Talk about how you’re feeling with others. Or find a creative way to let your feelings out. This could include art, music, or writing in a journal.

Maintain A Routine 

Get back into your normal routine as soon as you can. Try to keep up with your daily tasks so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Give Yourself A Break

Take breaks from grieving by participating in activities you enjoy. It’s okay to not feel sad all the time. It’s good for you to laugh.

Ask For Help If You Need It

You don’t have to struggle. Seek out friends, family, a counselor or therapist, or support groups.

(Familydoctor.org, 2019)

Relation To Case Study

In this case study, Max is grieving for the loss of his father, who has a history of depression, contributing to Max's diagnosis for a major depressive disorder. Thus, according to Kubler-Ross, Max is in Stage 4 of grief.

The nurse can help Max cope with the loss of his father by having Max talking about his feelings with the nurse and his psychiatrist, eventually leading to enter the final stage of grief (Stage 5: acceptance).

References

CAMH. (n.d). Coping with loss and grief. CAMH News and Stories. Retrieved

from, https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/coping-with-loss-and-grief

Familydoctor.org. (2019, December 2). Grieving: Facing illness, death, and

other losses. Retrieved from,  https://familydoctor.org/grieving-facing-illness-death-and-other-losses/

Kelly, A. (2022). Grief, Guilt, Hopelessness [PowerPoint Slides]. Mental

Health Nursing NURS 2207