Coping is the mental and emotional process by which a mourner resolves the disruption caused by the death of a loved one. According to board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Jorge Casariego, “Psychologically, it is imperative that a mourner experiences a gradual, normative process of disengagement from the image of the deceased that would additionally help avoid pathological mourning.” He explains pathological mourning as a delayed mourning process that can eventually become chronic and emotionally disturbing. If mourning does become problematic, it can potentially lead to serious depression. After more than 40 years practicing psychiatry, Dr. Casariego has learned firsthand that it takes many individuals about a year for the completion of a normal mourning process, a fact that overlaps with the Jewish tradition of Yahrzeit.

Dr. Jorge Isaac Casariego
Dr. Casariego, a board-certified psychiatrist, has been practicing psychiatry in the United States for more than 40 years. For the past 30 years, he has worked in private practice in Florida. During his professional career, Dr. Casariego has worked with the Veterans Administration and the United States Armed Forces, and he has practiced in the corporate mental health system.