| Most traumas, including the death of a | | | | challenges our beliefs of a coherent, |
| spouse are potentially shattering | | | | predictable, and controllable world. The |
| experiences. These events can disrupt | | | | overwhelming emotions which result from |
| the survivor's social, emotional, and | | | | such challenges often drive individuals |
| cognitive worlds. Although there has | | | | into a state of cognitive business. They |
| been frequent mention in the literature | | | | slip into a cycle of ruminative thinking |
| that traumatic situations cause people | | | | trying unsuccessfully to figure it all |
| to talk about their experiences most | | | | out. Based on research, it is |
| evidence has been anecdotal. When | | | | hypothesized that social sharing helps |
| someone within a social network dies, | | | | to undermine this cognitive business |
| members of the network are naturally | | | | cycle. This leads to predict that |
| drawn together. During the grieving | | | | emotional memories that were not shared |
| period especially within the first few | | | | would be associated with higher |
| days or weeks the survivors socially | | | | cognitive needs than emotional memories |
| share their emotions and memories with | | | | that were shared. This function of |
| each other. | | | | social sharing is also very relevant in |
| Many of the discussion topics surround | | | | the context of bereavement. |
| the individual who died, of course, but | | | | Experiencing the death of a spouse, |
| funerals and grieving rituals often | | | | often shatters people's basic beliefs |
| include the social sharing of other | | | | that they live in an orderly, |
| personal and family histories. Although | | | | understandable, and meaningful world. As |
| researched conducted to date has not | | | | a result, individuals frequently search |
| found compelling evidence that social | | | | for some meaning or try to make sense |
| sharing leads to emotional recovery, our | | | | out of their negative experiences. |
| data suggested that it may serve several | | | | Finding meaning in the loss of spouse is |
| other important cognitive, | | | | thought to be one way for dealing with |
| psychological, and social functions. | | | | and adjusting to the event. Through the |
| Analysis and Recommendations for Steps | | | | use of social sharing, people can |
| to Handle The Loss of a Spouse in the | | | | contribute to give both the death itself |
| First Year. The roles we have within our | | | | and its consequences more sense and |
| social networks are not often discussed | | | | meaning. |
| or clearly defined. One of the ironies | | | | References: |
| of having a spouse die is that we openly | | | | Stroebe, W., Stroebe, M., Schut, H., |
| discuss the person, our feelings about | | | | Zech, E., & van den Bout, J. (1997, |
| him or her, and become conscious of that | | | | June). Must we give sorrow words? Paper |
| person's influence on us. As far as it | | | | presented at the Third International |
| applies to bereavement, the death of a | | | | Conference on Grief and Bereavement in |
| loved one generally introduces chaos in | | | | Contemporary Society, Washington, DC. |
| people's personal universe, which may | | | | Watson, D., & Pennebaker, J. W. (1989). |
| end up in denial and in alteration of | | | | Health complaints, stress, and distress: |
| the sense of reality. When bereaved | | | | Exploring the central role of negative |
| individuals socially share the loss of a | | | | affectivity. Psychological Review, 2, |
| loved one, the contribution helps to | | | | 234-254. |
| give both the death itself and its | | | | Wortman, C. B., & Silver, R. C. (1989). |
| consequences more reality. | | | | The myths of coping with loss. Journal |
| A widow has to go through a lot when her | | | | of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, |
| spouse dies especially when she is very | | | | 57, 349-357. |
| young. The death of spouse very often | | | | |