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Ψ Reactions to a Spouse's death:
• Normal Grief - Increased depression for 6 months, recovery at 18 months. ≈ 11%
• Slow to recover - Still not back to normal at 4 years. ≈ 11%
• Resilient - happy & productive at 6 months after the death. ≈ 50%
• Less depressed after death than before ≈ 18%
• Depressed before & after, therefore chronically depressed, not stuck in grief. ≈ 10%
Ψ Recovery: The first step is to be aware that powerful, complicated, & culturally diverse emotions are likely: a friend should listen, sympathize & not ignore the mourners pain.
• The second step is to understand that bereavement is often a lengthy process, demanding sympathy, honesty, & social support for months or even years.
• It is important to recognize that each culture, cohort, & generation imparts to its people distinct customs and values.
• No matter what method is used to work through emotions of grief the experience may give the living a deeper appreciation of themselves as well as of the value of human relationships.
Ψ Death, when accepted, grief, when allowed expression, & bereavement, when it leads to fuller appreciation of living, gives added meaning to birth, growth, development, & all human relationships.
Epilogue: Death & Dying
Robert C. Gates
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Is there an emptiness we all share?
Before the end, I mean.
Heaven and earth depend on this clarity,
heaven and earth.
Under the gold doubloons of the fallen maple leaves,
The underworld burrows in,
sick to death of the light.
- Charles Wright, Littlefoot
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