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| Adolescents may respond by delinquency, or oppositely become 'over-achievers': repetitive [[actions]] are not uncommon such as washing a car repeatedly or taking up repetitive tasks such as sewing, computer games, etc. It is an effort to stay 'above' the grief. Childhood loss as mentioned before can predispose a child not only to [[physical]] illness but to [[emotional]] problems and an increased risk for suicide, especially in the adolescent period. | | Adolescents may respond by delinquency, or oppositely become 'over-achievers': repetitive [[actions]] are not uncommon such as washing a car repeatedly or taking up repetitive tasks such as sewing, computer games, etc. It is an effort to stay 'above' the grief. Childhood loss as mentioned before can predispose a child not only to [[physical]] illness but to [[emotional]] problems and an increased risk for suicide, especially in the adolescent period. |
| ==Death of a child== | | ==Death of a child== |
− | Death of a child can take the form of a loss in infancy such as miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death, SIDS, or the death of an older child.[8] In all cases, parents find the grief almost unbearably devastating, and while [[persons]] may rate the death of a [[spouse]] as first in traumatic life events, the death of a child is still perhaps one of the most intense forms of grief, holding greater risk factors. | + | Death of a child can take the form of a loss in infancy such as miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death, SIDS, or the death of an older child.[8] In all cases, parents find the grief almost unbearably devastating, and while [[persons]] may rate the death of a spouse as first in traumatic life events, the death of a child is still perhaps one of the most intense forms of grief, holding greater risk factors. |
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| This loss also bears a lifelong [[process]]: one does not get 'over' the loss but instead must assimilate and live with the [[death]].[9] Intervention and comforting support can make all the difference to the survival of a parent in this type of grief but the risk factors are great and may include [[family]] breakup or suicide. | | This loss also bears a lifelong [[process]]: one does not get 'over' the loss but instead must assimilate and live with the [[death]].[9] Intervention and comforting support can make all the difference to the survival of a parent in this type of grief but the risk factors are great and may include [[family]] breakup or suicide. |
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| Feelings of [[guilt]], whether legitimate or not, are pervasive, and the dependent [[nature]] of the [[relationship]] disposes [[parents]] to a variety of problems as they seek to cope with this great loss. Parents who suffer miscarriage or abortion may experience resentment towards others who experience successful pregnancies. | | Feelings of [[guilt]], whether legitimate or not, are pervasive, and the dependent [[nature]] of the [[relationship]] disposes [[parents]] to a variety of problems as they seek to cope with this great loss. Parents who suffer miscarriage or abortion may experience resentment towards others who experience successful pregnancies. |
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| ==Death of a spouse== | | ==Death of a spouse== |
| Although the death of a spouse may be an expected [[change]], it is a particularly [[power]]ful loss of a loved-one. A spouse often becomes part of the other in a [[unique]] way: many widows and widowers describe losing 'half' of themselves. After a long [[marriage]], at older ages, the elderly may find it a very difficult assimilation to begin anew. | | Although the death of a spouse may be an expected [[change]], it is a particularly [[power]]ful loss of a loved-one. A spouse often becomes part of the other in a [[unique]] way: many widows and widowers describe losing 'half' of themselves. After a long [[marriage]], at older ages, the elderly may find it a very difficult assimilation to begin anew. |