What is a Low Risk for Bereavement Adjustment Difficulties?

Generally, people who exhibit the following factors are expected to manage their grief and cope well with a loss:

• Self perception of adequate social support.
• Effective coping with past losses and /or crisis.
• Adequate financial resources.
• Positive relationship with the deceased or resolved separation.
• Belief that care provided prior to death was adequate.

(Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care [1990])

An important factor is what one believes-self perception- in all of these areas. Others, professionals included, often have preconceived ideas of how and what people need, should have or be in order to grieve well (another area that is best left to each individual to evaluate for themselves). But, in the end, how well we cope is directly related to how well we expect to cope and our self-perceived meaning of loss and recovery.

 As you evaluate yourself against these criteria, is there room for improvement?  Perhaps focusing time and energy on developing a strong social network of supportive friends, learning about and practicing skills such as relaxation and meditation, cognitive restructuring, enhancing your spiritual base, etc., becoming financially sound (even consider long-term care insurance), mending and deepening relationships with important people in your life and learning about and getting comfortable with end-of-life issues and the wishes of your loved ones will not only be a boon to you now, but also in times of loss and grief.