Language
Country/Area
No result found
Two tracks of mourning: How to understand the complex emotions of loss?
The loss of a loved one or something dear to one's heart is an indescribable pain for many people. Mourning, a natural response to such a loss, includes emotional distress and has many physical, psychological, and social consequences. Different people experience different feelings and reactions to loss, which makes understanding and coping with grief complicated. The "dual-track grief model" as an important theory helps us explore the diversity and depth of this emotion in more depth.
Conceptual Discussion
According to this model, the grieving process is not a linear path but rather two intertwining tracks. The first track focuses primarily on an individual's biopsychosocial functioning, such as emotional responses, changes in family and social relationships, and adaptation to daily life. The second track focuses on the ongoing emotional connection between the living and the deceased through the processing of positive and negative memories.
In the first track, individuals learn to adapt to pain, which requires time to make psychological adjustments and restore social functions.
Reevaluation of lost relationships is particularly important during this process. This not only includes remembering the deceased, but also how the living continue to reflect the influence of the deceased in their lives.
Complexity of Emotions
Loss is an individual experience for everyone. Some people experience intense grief after a loss, others may find strength in their grief, or even share moments of laughter with the deceased loved one. The diversity of these emotions truly reflects the various possibilities of life.
As researcher George Bonnano notes, some people may exhibit what's called "ugly coping," which involves displaying unconventional emotional responses to grief.
This diverse range of emotions challenges traditional understandings of mourning and makes us ask, in what contexts, are these responses considered healthy to deal with loss?
Scientific research shows that the impact of sadness on physical health is also noteworthy. For example, studies have found that people who experience loss generally experience increased self-reported physical distress and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. This makes it necessary to consider the close connection between emotional health and physical health.
Modern scientific research has confirmed that sadness can trigger a physiological inflammatory response, which is closely related to the process of emotional processing.
This finding raises questions about how to approach mourning more comprehensively: should we also pay attention to maintaining our physical health while grieving?
Dangers and Challenges
However, mourning can also be dangerous, especially for people with existing mental health issues. Severe grief reactions may have an impact on family relationships. For example, after losing a child, most families will face the risk of a sham marriage or relationship breakdown.
The latest research suggests that while institutions or experts should provide support, they should also be alert to changes in relationships after loss.
This phenomenon makes people wonder how to maintain a stable family structure when facing sadness?
Conclusion
In summary, understanding the dual-track model of mourning not only allows us to see the complex emotions of loss, but also highlights the uniqueness of how each person processes grief. Grief is not a simple emotion, but a deep journey of thought and emotion. When experiencing loss, what matters is how we accept the pain and ultimately learn to live again. In the face of all this, how should we view our lives and relationships?
