Signs & Symptoms of Anticipatory Grief

It is normal to experience combinations of or recurring signs and symptoms of anticipatory grief. Some of the signs and symptoms include:

• Feelings of guilt
• Tearfulness
• Constant changes in emotions
• Anger
• Depresssion
• Feeling of emotional numbness
• Anxiety or feelings of fear
• Changes in sleeping and eating habits
• Poor concentration
• Forgetfulness or poor memory
• Loneliness
• Denial
• Acceptance
• Fatigue

What You Can Do

There are things you can do which may be helpful for working through the anticipatory grief process. Some suggestions are:

• Go for short walks when possible.
• Write in a journal.
• Plan for the future.
• Seek spiritual assistance as needed.
• Talk to someone such as a friend, family member, or clergy.
• Make changes only as needed and put off major decisions when possible.
• Do the things you want to do now. Forget the chores that you can do later.
• Spend time with your loved one, friends, support group, and family.
• Seek help from your family, friends, and/or a hospice volunteer to arrange some time to spend doing the things you enjoy.
• Call your doctor if anticipatory grief feels overwhelming or you want to talk about your feelings.
• Attend a caregiver support group.