A REVIEW STUDY ON UNDERSTANDING GRIEF: ATTACHMENT, LOVE AND LOSS

Abstract

There is a reason why the phrases "love and loss" appear so frequently in mourning literature. Love and loss are two sides of the same coin; when we choose one, we open the door to the possibility of the other (Kosminsky & Jordan, 2016, p. 53). It is hardly surprising, therefore, that some similarities arise in how we establish attachment relationships and react to them throughout detachment and reattachment. Each person we love is unique, regardless of how many close relationships we have or with whom we have them. As a result, mourning for that person is a oneof-a-kind experience when the time comes. However, these universal sentiments share certain characteristics, which provide a framework for comprehending loss (Shear In Neimeyer, 2016, p. 14). Loss is an inevitable part of life and development. This may sound paradoxical, but the truth is that new life, change, and forward progress can only occur through losing (changing) an old lifestyle, behaviour pattern, or other aspects of the status quo (Walter & McCoyd, 2009, p. 1). Grief and mourning are the terms we hear the most in the current condition of transition to the new normal during Covid-19 circumstances, whether it is the loss of a person or an object. Recognising necessity, the authors endeavoured to conduct a review study on grief and associated concepts such as attachment, love, loss, mourning and bereavement from various perspectives. Finally, a personal experience is shared to make the study more impactful. By breaking the notion down into its core components, the current study provides everyone interested in exploring grief with a methodical overview as well as a rm understanding of the concept. Those seeking further information in the original literature will nd detailed references included.