Grief is one of those conditions that all individuals encounter several times in the course of their existence (Sánchez, 2016). From before birth, people experience losses that generate suffering that must be processed and overcome (Sánchez, 2016). Grief can have different characteristics depending on the nature of the loss, the relationship with the deceased, and the coping strategies and skills of the bereaved person (Adsuara, 2020). Although, according to Adsuara (2020), each grief is different, similarities can be found among grief experiences that occur in similar circumstances.
Anticipatory Grief
Those who experience this type of mourning begin to feel the pain of loss before it occurs (Adsuara, 2020). This is known as anticipatory grief, which occurs when the death is imminent (Corbin, n.d.). An example of this grief is when a chronic illness is diagnosed (Sánchez, 2016). In these situations, individuals are aware that they will inevitably lose their loved one soon and anticipate the psychological processes that grief entails (Adsuara, 2020). Unlike other forms of grief, anticipatory grief is characterized by more ambivalent and unstable feelings (Sánchez, 2016). Because the person is still present, mourners oscillate between getting closer and distancing themselves from them, as they desire to feel their presence one last time but simultaneously fear the emotional connection it involves (Sánchez, 2016). Nevertheless, according to Cifuentes (2018), experts recommend open communication with the departing person, as this can be beneficial for both parties.
Absent Grief
This type of mourning refers to the denial of someone's death with whom there was an emotional connection, motivated by a false hope of their return (Adsuara, 2020). The person acts as if nothing has happened and completely shuts down the topic (Sánchez, 2016). Additionally, the individual may reject that the events occurred, making the denial stage the most relevant (Varela, Reyes & García, 2017). In this case, it is a mechanism of denial; that is, the person remains trapped in this stage because they are not willing to confront the situation. The impact is so strong that the individual feels incapable of overcoming it and chooses to focus on other aspects of life (Varela, Reyes & García, 2017). According to Sánchez (2016), the problem is that the hidden pain remains dormant and can reappear, manifesting as irritability, anxiety, physical illness, among other things.
Chronic Grief
Chronic grief is a term used to refer to an unhealthy form of mourning that can impact a person's quality of life and their ability to move forward (Cifuentes, 2018). This type of grief occurs when an individual fails to overcome the loss of a loved one (Sánchez, 2016). The person refuses to accept what has happened and becomes obsessed with keeping the memory of the departed alive. This prevents them from progressing in life, leading to a perpetual state of pain (Sánchez, 2016). In chronic grief, the individual prolongs the pain of loss for many years, resulting in feelings of hopelessness (Adsuara, 2020). This type of mourning may persist when the person constantly relives the events related to the death in a detailed and vivid manner, with everything reminding them of that experience (Corbin, n.d.). Consequently, the person is unable to rebuild their life and remains completely anchored in the past (Adsuara, 2020). According to Sanchez (2016), fear, sadness, guilt, helplessness, and disappointment are predominant emotions in this type of grief.
Disavowed Grief
The term unauthorized mourning is used to refer to a situation in which the surrounding environment rejects the pain experienced by an individual (Varela, Reyes & García, 2017). For example, this occurs with losses that are not well understood, such as mourning for pets or mourning for perinatal loss, which are considered minor losses but are very painful for those who experience them (Calvo, 2020). It also occurs when a person passes away after having had an extramarital relationship (Sánchez, 2016). The lover "will not have the right" to express their grief (Sánchez, 2016). Similarly, it happens when the mourner is stigmatized, as in mourning for a homosexual partner or when a mother or father loses a child who has committed a crime (Calvo, 2020). According to Calvo (2020), these mournings are often repressed due to a lack of understanding and empathy from the surrounding environment, which can lead to psychological problems.
Distorted Grief
Distorted grief is the term used to describe one characterized by an exaggerated and inappropriate response to the situation (Corbin, n.d.). This type of grief occurs when a person has experienced a previous loss and faces a new one (Varela, Reyes & García, 2017). For instance, according to Corbin (n.d.), a person may have lost their father, and if their uncle passes away, they re-experience the loss of their father, leading to a more intense, painful, and debilitating situation.
Inhibited Grief
The postponed grief, as it is called in the specialized field, is an experience that affects individuals who have serious difficulties in expressing their emotions (Sánchez, 2016; Adsuara, 2020). These individuals have their feelings muted, which hinders them from expressing and confronting the loss of a loved one (Adsuara, 2020). Among the most common cases are children who fail to verbalize the meaning of this situation (Sánchez, 2016). Many times, adults do not recognize their suffering and do not provide the necessary support, assuming that they do not understand. Grieving is also inhibited in people with cognitive disabilities, in parents who try to appear strong to avoid harming their children, or in individuals who are very reluctant and do not want to talk about their feelings. According to Sánchez (2016), this inhibition can lead to obsessions, chronic depression, anxiety, and other psychological problems.
Delayed Grief
It is about a type of mourning that resembles the normal, but manifests itself after a period of time, in which the person simulates not feeling pain; however, it arises with great intensity and involves some difficulties, as it tends to be a solitary process (Varela, Reyes & García, 2017). It is often considered a form of absent mourning and is also called frozen mourning (Corbin, n.d.). It affects people who overly control their emotions and pretend to be strong. An example would be a person who has children and must stay composed (Corbin, n.d.). It is also common among people who experience forced displacement, live in vulnerable situations, and don't have time to mourn the loss (Calvo, 2020). Similarly, according to Corbin (n.d.) and Sánchez (2016), it occurs when a person has many responsibilities demanding immediate attention, such as caring for a family, excessive workload, or a family emergency.
Unresolved Grief
Unresolved grief is the term used to describe the type of grief that persists in an individual who cannot accept the loss of their loved one and the bond that connected them. As a result, they do not assimilate the death into their reality and remain trapped in the memory of the absent (Varela, Reyes & García, 2017). According to Corbin (n.d.), this term is applied to grief that extends beyond eighteen to twenty-four months without being overcome, lingering as an open wound that does not heal.
References
Adsuara, G. (2020). 11 Tipos de DUELO y sus Características. psicologia-online.com. Recuperado 27 September 2021, a partir de https://www.psicologia-online.com/tipos-de-duelo-y-sus-caracteristicas-4988.html
Calvo, A. (2020). Los tipos de duelo. Duelo Contigo. Recuperado 27 September 2021, a partir de https://duelocontigo.org/los-tipos-de-duelo/
Cifuentes, L. (2018). La importancia del duelo. Estrella Digital. Recuperado 29 September 2021, a partir de https://www.estrelladigital.es/articulo/sociedad/la-importancia-del-duelo/20180806144816352565.html
Corbin, J. Los 8 tipos de duelo y sus características. Psicologiaymente.com. Recuperado 27 September 2021, a partir de https://psicologiaymente.com/psicologia/tipos-duelo
Varela, L., Reyes, C., & García, J. (2017). Tipos de duelo y Estrategias de Afrontamiento. Repository.ucc.edu.co. Recuperado 27 September 2021, a partir de https://repository.ucc.edu.co/bitstream/20.500.12494/14552/1/2017_duelo_estrategias_afrontamiento.pdf
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