The disappearance of something cherished, such as a person, possession or property.
The definition of loss also includes
- "the act or instance of losing; the failure to keep or get something valued; the harm or suffering caused by losing or being lost; losses a.k.a. casualties occurring during wartime; destruction; and a measurable reduction in some substance or process."
Loss is a common experience common experience that can be encountered many times during a lifetime; it does not discriminate for age, race, sex, education, economic status, religion, culture or nationality.
Most people have experienced some type of personal or professional loss at some point in their life as a byproduct of living.
Other Types of Losses: Primary, Secondary, Major, Minor, Psychological, Psychosocial, Symbolic, Disenfranchised
Sources:
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2000) Houghton Mifflin Company. Definition of Loss. Bartleby. 10 August 2006. <http://www.bartleby.com/61/52/L0255200.html>
Dyer KA, Thompson CD. 2000. Journey of Hearts: From Idea to Reality A Website for Web-education Grief and Loss. ITCH 2000 (Information Technology in Community Health) Conference Proceedings. University of Victoria, School of Information Health Sciences. 10 August 2006. <http://www.journeyofhearts.org/jofh/dyer_itch.htm>
Childs-Gowell. E. 1992. Good Grief Rituals: Tools for Healing. Barrytown, N.Y.:Station Hill Press.
