Living with Grief

LIVING WITH GRIEF

PresentedClick to edit by masterCigna Employee byline style Assistance Program

Replay Link: https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=E27C7A03-0603-4614-A0CA-7288A76F9506 SEMINAR GOALS

• Identify common reactions to grief • Discuss how the experience of grief unfolds • Review strategies for coping with grief • Recognize when more help might be needed • Learn the benefits of your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Grief is… • Triggered by loss • Spontaneous • Unlearned • Emotional and physical

• Our sense of who we are and what the future will be is upended • Major change requires us to adapt without a blueprint • Can be a slow evolution; pain may be a companion for a long time • Modern life may not offer the support we need

Grieving offers us a way to deal with the pain of loss.

Emotional Physical Cognitive Behavioral

Everyone reacts differently; there is no “right” way to grieve.

GriefThe experience as distinct includes: stages •is Facinga misconception reality of the loss •1. ExperiencingDenial the pain •2. AdjustingAnger to a new normal •3. BeginningBargaining to see a future 4. Depression 5. Acceptance

Shock Guilt Denial Regret Numbness Anger Sadness Blame Relief Depression Anxiety Acceptance Fear Hope

Be kind to yourself • Allow your feelings • Say what you need • Trust yourself • Staying connected is OK

Putting one foot in front of the other may be all you can manage some days.

Work on finding balance • Allow rituals to ground you • Invite laughter to return • Light small sparks • Leave the house

Men and women tend to cope in different ways.

Find healthy ways to manage stress • Lean on others • Write down thoughts and feelings • Watch out for unhealthy coping • Eat, sleep, and move!

Coping strategies won’t take the pain away, but they may help you feel stronger and more able to manage it.

Grief can surge • Don’t ignore • Alert others • Plan ahead

Intense and prolonged grief reactions may point to need for more help • Deep pain and longing • Profound hopelessness • Preoccupation with guilt, anger • Increased substance use • Prolonged sleep problems • Inability to perform daily living activities

Seek help immediately if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide. Call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

What do I say or do? • Follow their lead • Avoid clichés • Listen and keep listening • Anticipate their needs • Go the distance

• Free to employees • 1-5 Face-to-face sessions • Confidential • Unlimited telephonic consultation Call EAP #800.382.3432 • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week • Household benefit • Legal and Financial • Work/life support available through LifeCare 877.399.8235

BENEFITS OF THE EAP For more information, type go/eap into your intranet browser.

16 REFERENCES

Kellehear, A. (n.d.). On death and dying: Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and the five stages of grief. Retrieved February 25, 2016 from http://www.ekrfoundation.org/five-stages-of-grief/

Kessler, D. (2014). Heal your heart after grieving. [Powerpoint]. Eau Claire, WI: PESI, Inc.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Complicated grief. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/complicated-grief/basics/definition/con-20032765

Shear, M. K., Simon, N., Wall, M., Zisook, S., Neimeyer, R., Duan, N., Reynolds, C., Lebowitz, B., Sung, S., Ghesquiere, A., Gorscak, B., Clayton, P., Ito, M., Nakajima, S., Konishi, T., Melhem, N., Meert, K., Schiff, M., O'Connor, M.-F., First, M., Sareen, J., Bolton, J., Skritskaya, N., Mancini, A. D. and Keshaviah, A. (2011), Complicated grief and related bereavement issues for DSM-5. Depress. Anxiety, 28: 103–117. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3075805/

Walter, C.A. and McCoyd, J.L.M. (2009). Grief and loss across the lifespan: A biosychosocial perspective. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, LLC.

Use and distribution limited solely to authorized personnel. © 2019 Cigna Some content provided under license. 17 This material is provided by Cigna for informational/educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical/clinical advice. Only a health care professional can make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment plan. For more information about your behavioral health coverage, you can call the customer service or the behavioral health telephone number listed on your health care identification card.

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