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Momentary Forgetting in Early Grief — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

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EasyBereavementMomentary Forgetting in Early GriefSCE Palliative Medicine

A 45‑year‑old man whose mother died 3 months ago from cancer reports that he sometimes forgets she has died and catches himself thinking “I must tell Mum about this.” He then feels a wave of grief when he remembers. Is this normal?

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Correct answer: A — Yes — momentary forgetting followed by painful re‑realisation is a common and normal feature of early grief

Momentary lapses in remembering a loved one’s death, followed by a sudden re‑realisation and surge of grief, are well recognised features of normal early bereavement. UK NHS resources explicitly list forgetfulness and reduced concentration as common grief reactions, and describe briefly forgetting reality then feeling grief or guilt as “normal and even healthy.” This distinguishes it from neurological disease (B), psychotic denial (C), dissociative disorder (E), and complicated grief (D), which typically involves pervasive, prolonged symptoms beyond six months not intermittent re‑realisations.

Reference: Normal feelings and reactions to grief (UHB NHS, recent); Bereavement grief booklet (East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, 2020)