September 13, 2004

This is a 60 minute video which addresses issues of grief and bereavement experienced by people due to the death of a loved one. The format of the video is conversational with nature scenes and music as it moves through three sections of content. This is a full color video produced by Motion Masters in Charleston, West Virginia.

Section 1: In this section, definitions of grief and bereavement are addressed along with general information about the psychological and spiritual aspects of grief. Dr. Patton discusses with host, Laddie Smith, the expected reactions that people usually have in a time of loss. Issues related as to how these expected responses often cause people to have doubts and concerns about their mental state is explored.

Section 2: This section addresses how people can find hope and meaning in times of loss. The importance of traditions, memories, and goals is discussed in terms of how people can remember their loved one and also move forward with their lives. The role of questions and doubts in a person's belief system is addressed.

Section 3: In this section, Dr. Patton and Laddie Smith address three Principles of Coping in times of loss.
Principle One - Do whatever you need to do, just don't do it all the time.
Principle Two - The goal in grief is not closure but to move from unbearable pain to bearable pain.
Principle Three - The Paradox of Grief is explained in this section. The paradox of grief states that, "the more we try to avoid the experience of grief, the more the experience of grief affects all other experiences".

Dr Patton concludes the video by speaking to viewers about the analogy of being lost in the forest and the similarities to the experience of grief. If we try to escape the forest, we are prone to panic and to miss the exact clues that the forest might provide to find our way out. Although the experience of being lost in the forest and of grief are both frightening and strange, the hope is find a way to learn and grow despite the pain.