Brainstorming Loss
Purpose
I use this exercise as an introduction to loss and grief.
Procedure
I ask the following 4 questions, one at a time, and I ask the men to generate a list pop-corn style, as I write the list on the board. When one topic is exhausted, I go to the next.
- What are some kinds of losses we experience, both in coming to prison and in life, in general?
- What feelings come up when we experience loss?
- What physical symptoms can come up when we are grieving?
- What keeps us from grieving.
I then like to make the comparison with anger, including:
- Both anger and grief have many emotions associated with them.
- Both anger and grief have a physical body response. Emotions aren't just in our heads.
- Loss is an integral part of life, and grieving is a normal, healthy process of healing from the loss.
Materials
These are the lists that I keep with me so I can check if anything major is missed.
List of losses:
- Death
- divorce
- loss of job
- loss of home
- loss of relationships
- moving
- loss of freedom
- self-respect
- loss of time with children
- loss of innocence
- loss of happy childhood
- loss of health
- loss of opportunities
- loss of control
- loss of health
- loss of privacy
Feelings associated with loss:
- anger
- sadness
- denial
- pain
- insecurity
- confusion
- loneliness
- resentments
- abandonment
- loss of control
- hopelessness
- scared
- vulnerable
- anxiety
- relief
- fear
- isolation
- depression
Physical symptoms of grief:
- insomnia
- sleeping too much
- loss of appetite
- over eating
- tension
- headaches
- anxiety
- loss of energy
- over active
What keeps us from grieving:
- Hurts too much
- need to work
- need to care for others
- not socially acceptable
- drugs/alcohol
- denial
- responsibilities
page revision: 1, last edited: 10 Oct 2009 17:59