Positive support mechanisms after a loss include a. religious rituals b. blaming yourself for the loss c. family and friends d. both a and c

Positive support mechanisms after a loss may include both religious rituals as well as family and friends. Religious rituals such as meeting with a vested leader of the belief system practiced by the person(s) who suffer loss will help to conform the concept of the loss to an acceptable structure in the minds of those who experience the loss. This is a support mechanism because without theological structure in place, those who feel a loss are apt to make over-emotional judgements about the reasons for the loss's occurrence. A religious leader has authority over many aspects of an individual's world view and therefore can provide a lot of support to a person who feels grief or loss. While a religious leader may be able to support individuals it is, on occasion, difficult to support a diverse group of people with various beliefs under the umbrella of a single religion. Therefore, the family and friends of the bereaved can also be encouraged to hold a group vigil or group remembrance ceremony that is non-denominational, or even to simply hold each other's hands and talk lightly to each other in order to confirm the bereaved's existence and importance within a social structure. The social structure supports the bereaved by maintaining its existence outside of strong emotions such as grief and therefore can help buoy the grief-stricken until the loss is less strongly felt.