Unresolved Grief and The Family Gamble
by The family gamble is when a family makes a decision if there is actually a loss of a family member. An example of family gamble is making decisions to become emotional ready to part ways with a comatose family member. Is there a chance of recovery? If there is a recovery, what can of quality of life is he or she going to have? Should I make funeral plans (Boss 1999)?
“Moos’ (1995) model of the interrelationship of processes involving grief tasks of
individuals and those of their families highlight the interdependence of family processes and individual perceptions. This model addresses relationships between individual and family grief symptoms, the influence of each family member on a family system’s coping strategies and grief reactions, and the mediating roles of family history, cultural constraints, feedback, and nuclear family functioning” (p.83).
Although the pain of losing loved ones was overwhelming, Jane came to realize that her family was feeling the same way too. This became of resource of support for Jane.
Emily came to realize that although the death of Carl and the baby was unavoidable and that the way her life was headed, she is distend to meet her maker. She informed her family that she wanted help for her substance addiction and was admitted to an inpatient treatment center. After a 30 day stay, she was returned home on the advice that she follows up with a family therapists who can check on her needs as well as the families’ needs. The family therapists also addressed the loss of Carl and the baby on separate visitation days.
When designing a treatment or prevention plan, singling out treatment and prevention efforts to the individual is virtually ineffective due to the multiple issues that is entangled with substance abuse. Without taping into unresolved issues, treating only the substance abuser still leaves room for sparks to fuel the cycle of abuse (Fischer & Lyness, 2005).
After initial consultation, the therapists discovers that alcohol and marijuana where often used by the parents when Emily was a child. The biopsychosocial focus applies to the description of Emily’s substance abuse. According to researchers, “a biological alcoholic parent may, among other things, (a) transmit genetic vulnerability; (b) model alcohol abuse; (c) foster the development of alcohol expectancies; (d) introduce stressors into the child and family environment, such as aggressive or violent behavior and marital disruption; and (e) distress the family economically and legally, placing the family in an impoverished and possibly dangerous environment” (Fischer & Lyness 2005, p.157). Emily’s past experience as a child being around drugs and alcohol influence what peers she chooses to hang around with in high school. With the open discussions, the Allen Family came to realize that they can modify their behavior and chose what stressors are relevant or irrelevant in their lives. Although the loss of Carl and the baby may be with them for a life time, they chose to remember them for the positive memories.
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