Question

Sudden traumatic deaths , especially does that are witnessed by children are likely to result in complicated grieving process among children. Discuss

Answer 1

SUDDEN TRAUMATIC DEATHS OF A LOVED ONE IS THE MOST SEVERE POTENTIALLY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IN ONE'S LIFE. EVEN INDIVIDUALS WITH A HIGH MENTAL STABILITY AND MATURITY OFTEN FAIL TO ACCEPT SUCH PAINFUL SHOCKING REALITIES AND DEVELOP SEVERAL MENTAL DISORDERS. IF SO, ONE CAN GUESS HOW BADLY TRAUMATIC DEATHS WOULD AFFECT THE MENTAL STATUS OF CHILDREN AND EVEN IN A FAR WORSE LEVEL, IF THEY HAD WITNESSED SUCH SUDDEN UNEXPECTED DEATH OF THEIR LOVED ONE.

   MOST OF THE CHILDREN, WHO HAD WITNESSED SUDDEN DEATHS OF THEIR LOVED ONES LATER DEVELOPED SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION, PANIC DISORDERS, AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS. IF TREATED AT THE EARLIER STAGES IT COULD BE COMPLETELY HEALED BUT IF NEGLECTED IT WOULD LEAD TO MANIC EPISODES, PHOBIAS, ALCOHOL DISORDERS AND GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDERS.

   TRAUMATIC DEATHS COULD ALSO RESULT IN COMPLICATED GRIEVING PROCESS AMONG CHILDREN AS WELL. IN COMPLICATED GRIEF THE CHILD IS USUALLY PREOCCUPIED WITH THE TRAUMATIC MEMORIES ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE CHILD CAN HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN ACCEPTING THE DEATH; SHE/HE MAY HAVE FEELINGS OF SELF-BLAME, ANGER, AND LACK OF SAFETY SENSE. CONCENTRATION PROBLEMS ARE COMMON AND WOULD BADLY AFFECT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES. THE FUTURE MAY SEEM BLANK OR THE CHILD MAY FAIL TO MAKE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. NIGHTMARES AND OTHER SLEEPING DIFFICULTIES MAY OCCUR ALONG WITH OVERALL REGRESSION. COMPLICATED GRIEF DOESN'T ALLOW MANY COMFORTABLE OR HAPPY MEMORIES TO EXIST UNTILL THE TRAUMATIC MEMORIES HAVE BEEN PROCESSED.

   CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE COMPLICATED GRIEF HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF REACTIONS AS THOSE IN NORMAL GRIEF, BUT THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR IS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS UNABLE TO INTEGRATE THE DEATH INTO THEIR LIFE AND IS NOT ABLE TO MOVE ON.

   COMPLICATED GRIEVING PROCESS IN CHILDREN WHO WITNESSED THE TRAUMATIC DEATH OF THEIR LOVED ONES MAY POSSIBLY LEAD TO SERIOUS ADAPTATION ISSUES AND HENCE IT MUST BE PROPERLY TREATED AT THE EARLIER STAGES. INDEED IT IS A MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL URGENCY AND MUST BE TREATED WITH DUE IMPORTANCE. CHILDREN WHO PASS THROUGH COMPLICATED GRIEVING MUST BE CARED WELL AND MUST BE GUIDED PROPERLY TO COME OUT OF THEIR ABNORMAL FEARS AND TO ACCEPT AND TO COP UP WITH THE REALITY TO LEAD A SUCCESSFUL FUTURELIFE