Coping With Loss and Grief

In this episode we explore coping with loss and grief amidst wartime. Prof. Anat Brunstein Klomek, clinical psychologist and Dean of the School of Psychology at Reichman University, sheds light on the different dimensions of loss – from personal relationships to broader societal structures. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the type of loss a person is dealing with, national or personal.  

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Anat presents the concept of Interpersonal Psychotherapy, underscoring the emotional and interpersonal aspects of mourning. She highlights the normalcy of emotional reactions in extraordinary situations, and discusses the meaning of seeking professional help when needed, normalizing reactions, and understanding that grief is not an illness but a process that varies from person to person.

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In reference to specific situations, Anat offers insights regarding support for those who lost loved ones on the frontline. She advocates open, mediated, age-appropriate communication with children about loss, encouraging them to ask difficult questions and request help. Anat stresses the importance of identifying warning signs, detailing in the episode some of the red flags to look out for, like prolonged emotional distress or difficulty resuming normal functioning over time. She emphasizes the need for timely professional intervention.