Chronic sorrow: concepts, manifestations, and psychological impact

Chronic sorrow is characterized by a constant grief in individuals who have lost a "perfect child." In this instance, a perfect child is relative to the individual. A perfect child, as referred to by the article is a child who, in the view of the parents, was exceptionally gifted and had a natural inclination to gravitate towards productive activities. Through the loss of this perfect child, a pervasive and recurrent form of grief persists in the individual. In addition to the common emotions of grief, individuals suffereing from Chronic sorrow also experience bouts of helplessness, frustration, and even fear. Chronic sorrow varies from a conventional form of grief in four main attributes.

There is a perception of sadness that has no end. The situations seems hopeless to the individual and as a result, it seems that the problem can not be resolved

The sorrow is cyclical and recurrent in nature. The feeling may initially subside, but they eventually return to the individual

3) The sorrow can be triggered from both internal and external events, which causes the individual to feel grief. There is a collective relationship between points 2 and 3. External events trigger the grief and the individual relapses into the chronic grief state once again

4) The feeling of grief is progressive and can suddenly intensify

Another main point of emphasis in regards to chronic sorrow is that a disparity exists within in the individual due in part to the event. This disparity must be resolved or the individual may not be able to relive him or herself from the influence of chronic sorrow. As such, I believe it important for individuals experiencing such symptoms of chronic sorrow must first reconcile within themselves. It is all too common within our society to allow episodes of chronic sorrow to simply fester, empowering the individual to commit acts though to be improbable. How often have we seen individuals murder, steal, or rape after an event that has caused that individual a bout to chronic sorrow. This disease can be detrimental to both society and the individual if not handled correctly or reconciled

The Peaceful End of Life Theory

The peaceful end of life theory is related to the treatment of terminally ill patients who are near death. Nurses provide care to individuals who are near death and serve them through their death. However, nurses deal with a litany of activities after an individuals death. These activities include, counseling the persons family, communicating the bad news to relatives, and facilitating the persons death. This theory is predicated on the theory of nursing as caring. This theory discusses how communication plays a vital role in the peaceful end of life of individuals. It also stresses how all stakeholders involved, including doctors, nurses, and family must accept that death, at some point, is inevitable. Through constant communication and support, a nurse can help a terminally ill person achieve a peaceful end of life. Personally, I agree with the theory in its entirety. Death, unfortunately, is inevitable. At some point all human being die. I believe it is important for health care institutions to provide the necessary services in which to foster the individual's transition into death. Further, it is important to communicate effectively with all stakeholders involved so that they too can find comfort in themselves. Otherwise, as we have discussed earlier, this individuals may develop a bout of chronic sorrow. The end of life theory is quite important because it is a precursor to subsequent behavior of the individuals who are affected. If a nurse can properly communicate with all stakeholders involved, the transition into grief and sorrow will be smoother for those affected. Likewise, if those affected are properly informed or reconciled, a bout of chronic sorrow can be avoided.