Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

MIND & EMOTION• 213GRIEFGrief is a perfectly natural reaction to the loss of a loved one, a pet, a job,a house, or anything in which a great amount of emotion has been invested. Thegrieving process has definite stages through which most individuals must pass inorder to come to terms with their loss and resolve the situation satisfactorily.Symptoms of stages• Initial sense of unreality or numbness.• Refusal to believe that the loss has occurred,with hallucinations of a loved one or thefeeling that they are present. This can last forup to three months.• Series of complex emotions such as guilt(for example, for not spending more time withthe lost person) and anger (for example, withGod for taking the person or with the doctorsfor not doing enough to save the deceased’slife), leading to despair and depression,possibly associated with bowel upsets, mentaldisorders, and even a susceptibility to suicide.• State of depression with a tendency toincrease the use of drugs or alcohol, sleepingproblems, general feelings of a lack of wellbeing,agitation, and tearfulness. Eventually,life becomes bearable, and even enjoyable,but the whole process may take up to twoyears or more. There is some evidence that thedeath of a partner may increase the chance ofdeath in the bereaved.Conventional careTreatment of long-term depression mayrequire the involvement of a psychiatrist,in conjunction with antidepressant drugs,psychotherapy, and counseling. Help mayalso be obtained from a variety of supportgroups and religious organizations.Homeopathic medicineHomeopathic remedies can help at eachstage of the grieving process. If a persondoes not appear to be recovering, however,constitutional treatment may be necessary, theremedy depending upon individual symptoms(see page 18). Aurum met. is indicated for thosewho are grieving over the loss of a loved oneor the failure of a business. Causticum is givenfor chronic, long-term grief and feelings akinto grief that are triggered by childbirth; Ignatiais used to treat the initial impact of grief; andPhosphoric ac. is used in the treatment of griefassociated with great exhaustion. Staphysagriais indicated for suppressed grief that is linkedto embarrassment or humiliation. Otherremedies prescribed constitutionallyinclude Lachesis, Nat. mur., and Phosphorus.Remedies specifically for the early stagesof grief include Arnica, when the grievingperson wants to be left alone, insists they areall right, rejects physical comfort, and displaysthe reactions of a person in shock; Aconite,if there is great fear and the person is on theverge of collapse, having witnessed a violentdeath for example; and Opium, when thebereaved is literally numb with grief, andis very frightened by the death of their lovedone. In the later stages of grief, Nux vomicais indicated when there is great anger andcriticism of others, and Pulsatilla is prescribedfor tearfulness at the slightest provocation,insomnia, and recurrent colds accompaniedby yellow or green catarrh.LifestyleThe most important thing for a grieving personto do is to express their emotions. If they havedifficulty talking about their problems, theyshould write down their thoughts, paint apicture, or use some other form of expression.Bottling up emotions may lead to chronicdepression or lowered resistance to physicalillnesses. Relaxation techniques or massagemay also be of great benefit.It is also important that someone whois grieving is kind to and patient withthemselves. They may believe that lifewill never be the same again, but timedoes heal, and their anguish will lessen.If progress through the grieving processis slow, however, talking to a counselorwho has received specific training indealing with grief, such as those workingfor support groups, is advisable.CAUTION• If grief lasts for more than 18 months,seek professional help.• If a depressed person is talkingabout suicide, alert their doctor ora counseling service.CASE HISTORYCelia was 54 and was seen after herdaughter had drowned while on vacation inItaly. Celia was distraught. She describedfeeling terrified upon waking at therealization that her daughter was dead,and feared that she was losing her sanity.She had received a lot of support fromher church and did not want to takeconventional drugs.PERSONAL DETAILSIt was impossible to assess Celia at firstdue to her appalling grief. Normally, shewould not be seen to cry, would bottle upher feelings, and be reluctant to confide inothers. She hated fuss, but became irritatedif not shown any attention. Celia felt thatshe had to be strong for others in timesof crisis. Her greatest fear was of herhome being broken into.FOOD PREFERENCESCelia craved salty and acidic foods, andliked starchy foods, but nothing slimy,such as shellfish. She disliked rich foods,meats, and coffee.GENERAL DETAILSCelia felt better in the open air on cooldays, but was exhausted by heat. Shewas worse if her eyes got tired, and wassensitive to noise.PRESCRIPTION & FOLLOW-UPCelia was treated with Phosphoric ac. A monthlater, she was still feeling guilty about herdaughter’s death and was given Nat. mur.This relieved the guilt, but Celia missed herdaughter terribly. She tried several Bachremedies, and gradually improved until theanniversary of the death, when she developedcystitis. For this she was given Pulsatilla. Overseveral years she was treated homeopathicallyfor a variety of ailments, including high bloodpressure caused by the stress of caring forher granddaughter. Nat. mur. and relaxationtherapy helped, but she also had to takehypotensive drugs. She was generally welluntil her son committed suicide 12 yearsafter his sister’s death. Celia sank into deepdespair, angry that her family had been madeto suffer so much. She was prescribed Ignatiaand then Nat. mur. over four months, and wasable to work through her anger and thedepression that followed.