Bereavement and the DSM5

Close personal relationships are very important in our lives. Our closest relationships help us regulate our bodies and minds and contribute importantly to our sense of wellbeing (Hofer, 1984; Mikulincer, Orbach, & Iavnieli, 1998; Sbarra & Hazan, 2008). Losing a close attachment is usually one of the most difficult experiences we ever have. Bereavement often leaves us dazed and confused about how to understand the loss and navigate the future. Acute grief takes us out of our ongoing life and focuses our attention on our deceased loved one. Grief is finely tuned to each loss situation with a pattern and course that is unique to each person and each relationship.