grief reaction, a complex of somatic and psychological symptoms associated with extreme sorrow or loss, specifically the death of a loved one. Somatic symptoms include feelings of tightness in the throat and chest with choking and shortness of breath, abdominal distress, lack of muscular power, and extreme tiredness and lethargy. Psychological reactions involve a generalized awareness of mental anguish and discomfort accompanied by feelings of guilt, anger, hostility, extreme restlessness, inability to concentrate, and lack of capacity to initiate and maintain organized patterns of activities. Such symptoms may appear immediately after a crisis, or they may be delayed, exaggerated, or apparently absent, depending on the degree of involvement of the relationship and the physical and mental status of the person. Although both the somatic and psychological reactions have the potential for developing into pathological conditions, appropriate adaptive behavior and normal responses, such as sobbing or talking about the dead person or tragedy, are methods of working through the acute grief and lead to successful resolution of the crisis. Most acute grief reactions are resolved within 4 to 6 weeks, although the period varies and may be much longer, especially in cases of unexpected and sudden death. Intervention by health care professionals, especially nurses, is necessary when individuals exhibit maladaptive behavioral patterns that prevent the resolution of grief and can lead to morbid reactions, including such accepted psychosomatic illnesses as asthma and ulcers.
