Nursing: Stages of grief (Essay Sample)

Stages of Grief Name: Institution: Stages of Grief Introduction Dealing with loss is never easy. The gap left by a child, spouse, friend, or relative is not replaceable. One requires passing through a grieving process so as to gain the strength and wisdom to accept the departure of a loved and move on. Recovering from loss does not occur in a day. However, it is a process that requires one to endure all the five stages of grieving to succeed. Lament for a Son is a book by Nicholas Wolterstorff, which constitutes of an assortment of quotes and stories regarding with the author’s unexpected loss of his son, Eric that occurred in a mountain climbing mishap (Wolterstorff, 1987). The author creates an inspirational story by compiling tales about Eric’s life and eventual death. This paper will help us understand how Wolterstorff finds happiness again, after losing his source of joy, his son. Again, Wolterstorff’s experience will enable the readers to have a better comprehension of the grieving process. Stages of the grieving process Denial is the first stage of the grieving process (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2005). At this step, most people feel overwhelmed and devalue life. They assume that life stops going on after they lose a loved one. Others go numb are unable to come to terms with the reality of loss. Many times, the aggrieved party prefers not to talk about their departed one, or even live in the unfounded hope that their departed could come back. It is a dangerous stage of grief which requires proper guidance and full support. If not counseled, one could remain in the renunciation stage and halt their lives for good. Anger is the second phase which makes one easily irritable and often picks fights with people around them (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2005). Violence is considered as a way for grieving people to vent out their frustration and rage caused by the departure or loss of their loved one (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2005). It is a necessary stage that allows the griever to heal emotionally. Next is the bargaining phase. The negotiating stage is where the griever opts to do alternative activities to replace or substitute for their loss (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2005). In most instances, people tend to either bury themselves in work or even offer to volunteer so that they can spend less time thinking about their loss. It is a moment of regret where the griever settles for a temporary truce and wishes to have done things differently, to prevent the death. Depression is the second last stage that forces one to go into deep levels of stress (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2005). They tend to feel empty, and it is in this period that most grievers opt for suicide. It is important to know that depression during grief is not a mental disorder. Rather, it is a normal response to loss and does not last forever. Lastly, acceptance is the overall sign that one has not only overcome their loss but also accepted the reality. Acceptance marks the final stage of the grieving process. Wolterstorff’s experience Like any other father, Wolterstorff asks himself numerous questions regarding the death of his son. First, he wonders why Eric was on the mountain in the first place (Wolterstorff, 1987). The death of his son not only devastates him but also pushes him into a state of utopia where he talks to himself, hoping to establish why his son died. Unlike most people who take weeks in denial and anger stages, Wolterstorff quickly accepts the death of his son and vents it out through crying. He then assembles his family in preparation for Eric’s send off. The author encounters many dreams of, a voice encouraging him to overcome Eric’s loss. Eventually, Wolterstorff decides to move on and finds a new source of joy. Instead of dwelling on his loss, Wolterstorff decides to become an inspirational writer, not only to help himself deal with the loss of a son but also to encourage parents in a similar situation. T...