This does not mean that the deceased was not loved or is forgotten, but that the mourner is able to turn to others for emotional satisfaction. In readjustment, the mourner's roles, identity, and skills may have to be modified in order to live in the world without the deceased. In modifying emotional energy, the energy that was once invested in the deceased is invested in other people or activities. Since these tasks usually require physical and emotional energy, it is not uncommon for grievers to experience overwhelming fatigue. The grief experienced is not just for the person who died, but also for the unfulfilled wishes, plans, and fantasies that were held for the person or the relationship.
Death often awakens emotions of past losses or separations.
These phases grew out of the attachment theory of human behavior, which postulates people's need to attach to others in order to improve survival and reduce risk of harm. Research Press Company, 1984. Mayfield Publishing Company, 1987. PDQ statements exist for a number of topics. Please consult the PDQ Index .