Overview

The Integrative Health approach can be built around the Circle of Health, which emphasizes the importance of personalized, values-based care that draws in mindful awareness and eight areas of self-care: Physical Activity, Surroundings, Personal Development, Nutrition, Recharge, Family, Friends and Coworkers, Spirit & Soul, and Mind and Emotions.  Conventional therapies, prevention, complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches, and community also have important roles.  The narrative below describes how and Integrative approach could have an impact on a person coping with grief.

Depending on individual needs, an Integrative Health approach to grief may be quite different from an approach to depression, and of course, it will vary based on each individual’s needs.  A person’s health plan may incorporate a variety of self-care, conventional care, and complementary health approaches, as described below.

To learn how to work with people with grief, it is important to 1) recognize the possible role of grief as a cause or in the exacerbation of clinical symptoms, 2) increase your ability to support a grieving patient within your own time limitations, comfort level, and knowledge in this area, and 3) know when to refer a patient to a grief specialist, empowering patients to optimally cope with their grief and integrate a loss into their lives.   Keep reading to learn more about the evidence for the efficacy and safety of different approaches that might be helpful for you and for others.

Note:  This overview focuses on grief related to a death loss, with some pertinent information included on other types of losses.  A more complete focus on other types of losses (such as disability, divorce, job loss, effects of natural disasters) is beyond the scope of this overview.  However, you are likely to find the concepts and suggestions helpful and adaptable when working with someone who has experienced any sort of significant loss.

Meet the Patient

Jim is a 66-year-retired EMT.  He has been divorced for 25 years.  He does not have children, and he lives alone.  Over the years he has had a couple bouts of mild to moderate depression when relationships ended.  A knee injury has limited a few activities he previously enjoyed, such as softball.  He likes to watch sporting events and to spend time outdoors.  He came into the medical center with new-onset back pain, difficulty sleeping, and fatigue.