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Avital Kapah
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EP1.16 - Treatment in the Real World - Support, Survivorship, Systems Research (ID 206)
- Event: WCLC 2019
- Type: E-Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
- Track: Treatment in the Real World - Support, Survivorship, Systems Research
- Presentations: 1
- Now Available
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 9/08/2019, 08:00 - 18:00, Exhibit Hall
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EP1.16-31 - Disenfranchised Grief Tools Used in the Treatment of Bereavement, Are Used in the Therapy of Cancer Patients (Now Available) (ID 2247)
08:00 - 18:00 | Presenting Author(s): Avital Kapah
- Abstract
Background
Background:
In the last decade, treatment for bereavement evolved. Jorst (1988) said that mourning occurs when we grieve for the death of our beloved people, but similarly we can mourn the end of a marriage, termination from work , disability, illness, premature delivery, etc.
The bereavement experience is characterized by tremendous emotional difficulty, deep sorrow, pain, helplessness, lack of control, disappointment, anger frustration, etc. ( Robin, Malkinson, and Witztom 2016), which can lead to depression, and even major dysfunction.
People who are dealing with cancer, experience a great sense of loss i.e: loss of self-perception, loss of dreams and expectations, and loss of control in their life. These personal emotional experiences often are not fully spoken about, and there is a large gap between the patient's inner feelings and the perception of their family and friends
The reaction of the family and friends is normally encouraging, strengthening, and providing hope for the cancer patient. It is for this reason, there is great difficulty for the family to perceive negative reactions such as deep sorrow, depression, lack of appetite, dysfunction, anger, helplessness from the patient.
These reactions stimulate severe responses in both the family and the therapist, especially when there is a major gap between the physical condition of the patient and their emotional response. (For example, the patient has been informed that he is ill, but he has no symptoms, and yet he is currently dysfunctional due to his personal bereavement).
The goal of the intervention is to help the patient and his family by the understanding that the patient is dealing with a real loss. This understanding enables emotional processing, as well as reducing the gap between the patient and his family
Method
Method
During therapy, we use the same tools that are used in the field of bereavement, for example, the use of the 'Two Track Model of Bereavement ', the four truths of the Buddha, the acquisition of the concept of "self-compassion" and techniques for distraction and relaxation. These tools enable normalization, acceptance of the situation, and a discussion of existential questions that arise.
Result
In families where these tools of bereavement were used, a reduction was seen, in the gap between the patient and his family. The family became more empathetic, the patient became calmer in the understanding of himself. Thus, the patient was more willing to participate in social functions vs social isolation.
Conclusion
Treating cancer patients and families, as those who deal with real loss, enables them to better manage and understand their situation appropriately, and enables us (therapists) to be more empathic and target precisely the appropriate treatment for them.
