Empty Garden: Coping with Grief and Bereavement

Problem Statement: Grief is not a disease or a sign of weakness. We experience this emotional turbulence as we progress in life. Any significant loss can trigger feelings of emptiness and searching for internal resources to heal and to move on. Purpose: Where grief is our natural response to loss, bereavement implicates death of a loved one. This rollercoaster process of adaptation to an irreplaceable loss can vary in people. What helps us cope in grief is our support system, our beliefs as well as looking at future. Methods: Focus group intervention for grief was done by using The Brief COPE that measures the frequency of engaging in behavioural and cognitive strategies for coping with general life stressors. Results: Responses showed recent deaths, to loss of romantic relationships and break ups in friendships as the antecedents to ongoing grief. To overcome feelings of despair, people engaged into act of kindness towards someone to relieve sadness. Gratitude was seen as a protective factor towards grief especially in the younger population. Conclusion: Any form of grief brings with it vulnerability and needs time to recover. It is vital to look for coping skills where self-care is most important. Coping skills were discussed where journaling thoughts, opening to friends, and seeking professional help were seen to be most favourable.