 Grief
Grief is a natural response to loss; the loss can be very varied and cover a single or a chain of life events. The grief is the emotional response to someone or something being removed from your life. Traditionally loss is associated with the loss of a loved one, but any loss can cause grief.
- Divorce or relationship breakup
- Loss of health
 Redundancy or any job loss- The loss of a child
- A miscarriage
- Retirement
- Children growing up and leaving home
- Loss of a dream
- Loss of safety after a traumatic experience
- Loss of status
Grieving is a personal and a very individual experience, it is important to know, grieving is a necessary response to allow the individual to heal and ultimately recover. Elisabeth Kubler Ross was a Swiss psychiatrist, a pioneer in Near-Death Studies. The 5 Stages of Grief are also known as the ‘grief cycle’, it is important to bear in mind that Kübler-Ross did not intend this to be a rigid series of sequential or uniformly timed steps. It’s not a process as such; it’s a model or a framework
| Stage |
Interpretation |
| 1: Denial |
Denial is a conscious or unconscious refusal to accept facts, information, reality, etc., relating to the situation concerned. It’s a defence mechanism and perfectly natural. Some people can become locked in this stage when dealing with a traumatic change that can be ignored. Death of course is not particularly easy to avoid or evade indefinitely. |
| 2: Anger |
Anger can manifest in different ways. People dealing with emotional upset can be angry with themselves, and/or with others, especially those close to them. Knowing this helps keep detached and non-judgemental when experiencing the anger of someone who is very upset. |
| 3: Bargaining |
Traditionally the bargaining stage for people facing death can involve attempting to bargain with whatever God the person believes in. People facing less serious trauma can bargain or seek to negotiate a compromise. For example “Can we still be friends?..” when facing a break-up. Bargaining rarely provides a sustainable solution, especially if it’s a matter of life or death. |
| 4: Depression |
Also referred to as preparatory grieving. In a way it’s the dress rehearsal or the practice run for the ‘aftermath’ although this stage means different things depending on whom it involves. It’s a sort of acceptance with emotional attachment. It’s natural to feel sadness and regret, fear, uncertainty, etc. It shows that the person has at least begun to accept the reality. |
| 5: Acceptance |
Again this stage definitely varies according to the person’s situation, although broadly it is an indication that there is some emotional detachment and objectivity. People dying can enter this stage a long time before the people they leave behind, who must necessarily pass through their own individual stages of dealing with the grief. |
(Based on the Grief Cycle model first published in On Death & Dying, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, 1969. Interpretation by Alan Chapman 2006-2009.)
The Therapy: The presenting issue will be dealt with in a relaxed initial consultation which will allow for all aspects of the therapeutic process to be discussed and all questions answered openly, fully and confidentially.
|
Lo-Call in Ireland: 1890-273-273 or email therapy@descanning.com to book an assessment consultation.
Choose A Better Tomorrow - START TODAY |
|
