"Grief and Loss : Understanding the Journey" (Paperback) by Stephen J. Freeman

3rd Summary Paper Concept of Reading Freeman's chapter concerning the "reaction to loss" demonstrates the varying degrees of the grief reaction. The timetable for grief is one that is unique to the individual. Many seem to move on quickly while others appear to linger. I chose this chapter to summarize instead of concentrating on one theme because one will be able to differentiate between normal and abnormal grief reactions. I feel that many people, particularly …

…particularly sensitive to coping and defense mechanisms of the grieving individual. If an individual is one that has had unhealthy coping patterns in the past, one must closely monitor their potential for relapsing into these behaviors. For a social worker who is employed at hospice agencies, senior citizens centers, or nursing homes, death will always be an issue and an opportunity for intervention to assist the clients and their family members in the grieving process.