Counting Our Losses: Reflecting on Change, Loss, and Transition in Everyday Life (Series in Death, Dying, and Bereavement)

This text is a valuable resource for clinicians who work with clients dealing with non-death, nonfinite, and ambiguous losses in their lives. It explores adjustment to change, transition, and loss from the perspective of the latest thinking in bereavement theory and research. The specific and unique aspects of different types of loss are discussed, such as infertility, aging, chronic illnesses and degenerative conditions, divorce and separation, immigration, adoption, loss of beliefs, and loss of employment. Harris and the contributing authors consider these from an experiential perspective, rather than a developmental one, in order to focus on the key elements of each loss as it may be experienced at any point in the lifespan. Concepts related to adaptation and coping with loss, such as resilience, hardiness, meaning making and the assumptive world, transcendence, and post traumatic growth are considered as part of the integration of loss into everyday life experience. This Text Is A Valuable Resource For Clinicians Who Work With Clients Dealing With Non-death, Nonfinite, And Ambiguous Losses In Their Lives. It Explores Adjustment To Change, Transition, And Loss From The Perspective Of\the Latest Thinking In Bereavement Theory And Research, The Specific And Unique Aspects Of Different Types Of Loss Are Discussed, Such As Infertility, Aging, Chronic Illnesses And Degenerative Conditions, Divorce And Separation, Immigration, Adoption, Loss Of Beliefs, And Loss Of Employment. Harris And The Contributing Authors Consider These From An Experiential Perspective, Rather Than A Developmental One, In Order To Focus On The Key Elements Of Each Loss As It May Be Experienced At Any Point In The Lifespan. Concepts Mow To Adaptation And Coping With Loss, Such As Resilience, Hardiness, Meaning Making And The Assumptive World, Transcendence, And Posttraumatic Growth Are Considered As Part Of The Integration Of Loss Into Everyday Life Experience. Darcy L. Harris, Phd, Hsw, Ft, Is A Professor In The Department Of Interdisciplinary Programs And Coordinator Of The Thanatology Program At King's University College At The University Of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. She Also Maintains A Private Counseling Practice, Specializing In Issues Related To Change, Loss, And Transition. --book Jacket. Section I: Introduction -- -- Grief From A Broader Perspective : Nonfinite Loss, Ambiguous Loss, And Chronic Sorrow / Harris, Gorman -- The Social Context Of Loss And Grief / Harris -- -- Section Ii: Loss Of View Of The World And/or Others -- -- Part A: Loss Of Safety And Security -- -- Are You Safe? Loss Related To Personal Violation / Abercromby -- Traumatic Events And Mass Disasters In The Public Sphere / Modesto -- Vicarious Trauma And Professional Caregiver Stress : Occupational Hazards Or Powerful Teachers? / Gorman -- -- Part B: Relational Losses -- -- Navigating Intimate Relationship Loss : When The Relationship Dies, But The Person Is Still Living / Harris -- Adoption : A Life Begun With Loss / Schacter, Schacter -- Losses For Birthmothers Who Place Children For Adoption / Silverman -- Loss Related To Developmental Milestones : An Analysis Of The Post Parental Transition / Lewis, Gorman -- Change And Transition In Non-kinship Groups / Cushing -- --^ Section Iii: Loss Of Meaning Or Of A Sense Of Justice In The World -- -- Existential Suffering : Anguish Over The Human Condition / Attig -- Relinquishment Of Certainty / Hunter -- Loss Of Religious Community / Harvey -- -- Section Iv: Loss Of The View Of Self As Worthy Or Valuable -- -- Part A: Loss Of Identity -- -- The Trauma Of Neglect / Kauffman -- We Are Not Like Other People : Identity Loss And Reconstruction Following Migration / Sawicki -- Loss Of Employment / Harris, Isenor -- Infertility And Reproductive Loss / Harris -- Coming Out : Intrapersonal Loss In The Acquisition Of A Stigmatized Identity / Scott -- -- Part B: Loss Of Functionality -- -- Chronic, Degenerative Conditions And Loss / Gorman -- Traumatic Brain Injury / Kosminsky -- Who Did You Used To Be? Loss For Older Adults / Langer -- -- Section V: Coping With Losses In Life -- -- Adaptation, Resilience, And Growth After Loss / Gorman -- Meaning-making And The Assumptive World In Non-death Loss / Harris --^ Integrating Loss In Everyday Life / Harris. Edited By Darcy Harris. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Book Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 10 Series Editor’s Foreword 14 Acknowledgments 16 Introduction 18 About the Editor 26 About the Contributors 28 1 Grief From a Broader Perspective: Nonfinite Loss, Ambiguous Loss, and Chronic Sorrow 32 2 The Social Context of Loss and Grief 46 Section I: Loss of the View of the World or Others 56 Section IA: Loss of Safety and Security 58 3 Are You Safe? Understanding the Loss of Safety for Women and Children Who Experience Abuse 60 4 Traumatic Events and Mass Disasters in the Public Sphere 68 5 Vicarious Trauma and Professional Caregiver Stress: Occupational Hazards or Powerful Teachers? 78 Section IB: Relational Losses 94 6 Navigating Intimate Relationship Loss: When the Relationship Dies but the Person Is Still Living 96 7 Adoption: A Life Begun With Loss 106 8 Loss Related to Developmental Milestones: An Analysis of the Postparental Transition 124 9 Grief and Caregiver Turnover in Nonfamilial Communities: Left Behind but Not Bereft 134 Section II: Loss of Meaning or a Sense of Justice in the World 148 10 Existential Suffering: Anguish Over Our Human Condition 150 11 Relinquishment of Certainty: A Step Beyond Terror Management 158 12 Wrestling With the Loss of One’s Faith Community 164 Section III: Loss of the View of Self as Worthy or Valuable 170 Section IIIA: Loss of Identity 172 13 The Trauma of Neglect: Loss of Self 174 14 We Are Not Like Other People: Identity Loss and Reconstruction Following Migration 182 15 Loss of Employment 194 16 Infertility and Reproductive Loss 202 17 Coming Out: Intrapersonal Loss in the Acquisition of a Stigmatized Identity 214 Section IIIB: Loss of Functionality 224 18 Chronic Degenerative Conditions, Disability, and Loss 226 19 Loss of Functionality: Traumatic Brain Injury 240 20 “Who Did You Used To Be?” Loss for Older Adults 246 Section IV: Coping With Losses in Life 254 21 Adaptation, Resilience, and Growth After Loss 256 22 Meaning Making and the Assumptive World in Nondeath Loss 270 23 Concluding Thoughts 278 Index 284 Behavioral Sciences Section I: Introduction Harris, Gorman, Grief from a Broader Perspective: Nonfinite Loss, Ambiguous Loss, and Chronic Sorrow. Harris, The Social Context of Loss and Grief. Section II: Loss of View of the World and/or Others Part A: Loss of Safety and Security Abercromby, Are You Safe? Loss Related to Personal Violation. Modesto, Traumatic Events and Mass Disasters in the Public Sphere. Gorman, Vicarious Trauma and Professional Caregiver Stress: Occupational Hazards or Powerful Teachers? Part B: Relational Losses Harris, Navigating Intimate Relationship Loss: When the Relationship Dies, but the Person is Still Living. Schacter, Schacter, Adoption: A Life Begun with Loss. Silverman, Losses for Birthmothers Who Place Children for Adoption. Lewis, Gorman, Loss Related to Developmental Milestones: An Analysis of the Post Parental Transition. Cushing, Change and Transition in Non-Kinship Groups. Section III: Loss of Meaning or of a Sense of Justice in the World Attig, Existential Suffering: Anguish over the Human Condition. Hunter, Relinquishment of Certainty. Harvey, Loss of Religious Community. Section IV: Loss of the View of Self as Worthy or Valuable Part A: Loss of Identity Kauffman, The Trauma of Neglect. Sawicki, We are not like Other People: Identity Loss and Reconstruction Following Migration. Harris, Isenor, Loss of Employment. Harris, Infertility and Reproductive Loss. Scott, Coming Out: Intrapersonal Loss in the Acquisition of a Stigmatized Identity. Part B: Loss of Functionality Gorman, Chronic, Degenerative Conditions and Loss. Kosminsky, Traumatic Brain Injury. Langer, Who did You Used to Be? Loss for Older Adults. Section V: Coping with Losses in Life Gorman, Adaptation, Resilience, and Growth after Loss. Harris, Meaning-Making and the Assumptive World in Non-Death Loss. Harris, Integrating Loss in Everyday Life.