MORE ABOUT ANTICIPATORY GRIEF

How do you recognize the signs and symptoms of anticipatory grief?

Anticipatory grief bears many of the same symptoms as conventional grief, which is the emotional response to the loss of a loved one. Although grief generally progresses in stages, every person may experience it differently.

As you grieve, you may experience:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Desire to talk
• Emotional numbness
• Fatigue
• Fear
• Guilt
• Loneliness
• Poor concentration or forgetfulness
• Sadness

There are some clear differences between anticipatory grief and conventional grief, though.

These unique signs and symptoms include:

• Increasing concern for the person dying
• Imagining or visualizing what the person’s death will be like
• Preparing for what life will be like after a loved one is gone.
• Attending to unfinished business with the dying person

Ways to cope with anticipatory grief – While anticipatory grief is normal, it might interfere with your overall well-being. Do not be afraid to let yourself feel the pain of grief. Suppressing or ignoring these feelings is not a solution. Acknowledge your feelings of fear and loss and remind yourself that they are normal in this situation.

If you are having trouble understanding or coping with your feelings Get help from a support group. PRO has three Caregiver Support Groups each month, for dates and times, check ParkinsonsResource.org/news/calendar/.