Dangerous words
Abstract
ABSTRACTSome of the words and terms in common usage following bereavement are ambiguous or likely to be misunderstood. Words that need special caution include ‘grief,’, ‘mourning’, ‘meaning-making’, ‘dependent,’ ‘empathy’, and various words used to describe the problems to which grief can give rise. The risk of misunderstanding is no reason to stop using these terms; problems can be avoided if we take care and clarify our usage when necessary.
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