1. The Grief and Mourning Quiz

Medical Author:

Lynn Barkley Burnett, EdD, MS, LLB

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Grief may cause significant physical symptoms and psychological distress.

• Physical manifestations of grief
• loss of appetite
• changes in weight
• trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• fatigue
• chest pain
• headache
• palpitations
• hair loss
• gastrointestinal distress
• Risk for health problems and death: Grieving people are at increased risk for health problems and death.
• Physical complaints such as changes in weight, chest pain, and palpitations, while often seen in the bereaved, nevertheless should be discussed with a doctor since they may be due to other conditions.
• Chest pain that is alarming; that radiates to the neck, jaw, arm, or back; or that is sudden in onset, should prompt an immediate call to 911 for emergency medical services.
• Similarly, seek immediate help for chest pain or palpitations associated with shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, lightheadedness, weakness, or profound fatigue.
• Psychological manifestations of grief
• sadness
• anxiety
• helplessness
• emotional swings
• irritability
• apathy
• disbelief
• impaired concentration
• lowered self-esteem
• hallucination that the deceased person is present (visual or auditory)
• feelings of unreality, numbness, denial
• searching for the deceased
• flashbacks
• individuals may progress and then suddenly feel worse, without an obvious trigger
• Suicidal thoughts
• Thoughts of suicide occur in up to 54% of survivors and may continue up to six months after the death.
• Although it is common to have such thoughts, individuals should talk with a doctor or a mental-health professional.
• Depressive illness
• Depressive illness, not to be confused with situational depression caused by the loved one's death, occurs in 17%-27% of survivors during the first year after a death.
• Symptoms of depression typically begin after one to two months of bereavement, last for several months after the loss, and are constant.
• Depressive illness is associated with prominent thoughts of suicide, profound changes in appetite or sleep, or substantial decreases in function. The help of a mental-health professional is needed.

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