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Caregiver Grief and Loss
Grief is an inevitable part of the journey when caring for someone with dementia or other complex conditions. It poses significant challenges for both caregivers and care receivers.
Four Types of Grief
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Anticipatory Grief: The sorrow of losing a loved one before their physical passing.
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Ambiguous Loss: Conflicting emotions arising from interacting with a person who is physically present but psychologically changed.
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Disenfranchised Grief: Hidden or socially unrecognized grief experienced while the person is still alive.
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Loss of One's Old Life and Future Vision: Grief over ongoing losses that may evoke feelings of guilt or resentment.
Our bodies carry emotional histories, including grief. The Body Scan is a practice that helps us become more familiar with how our bodies express different emotions. Through this mindful practice, we can cultivate awareness of sensations and develop kindness and compassion toward ourselves.
Practicing the Body Scan; While sitting or lying down:
- Explore each part of your body, from head to toe.
- Notice sensations in bones, muscles, and skin.
- Observe bodily processes like blood flow, breath, and digestion.
- Recognize unresolved patterns that become more apparent.
- Embracing gentleness in this practice.
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