ELIZABETH KUBLER-ROSS WAS A SWISS PSYCHIATRIST WHO WAS ONE OF TRIPLET SISTERS BORN IN 1926. SHE SPENT A LOT OF TIME CONFORTING AND STUDYING DYING PEOPLE IN HER HOSPITAL. IN 1969, SHE INTRODUCED THE 5 STAGES OF GRIEF. HER THEORY WAS MISUNDERSTOOD AND APPLIED IMPROPERLY. THE STAGES WERE MEANT TO APPLY TO THE PHASES OF GRIEF A DYING PERSON GOES THROUGH, NOT THOSE GRIEVING THE DEATH OF ANOTHER PERSON. THESE STAGES DO NOT NECESSARILY COME IN ORDER NOR ARE ALL STEPS EXPERIENCES BY ALL PEOPLE BUT A PERSON WILL ALWAYS EXPERIENCE AT LEAST TWO.
STAGE 1
DENIAL- THIS IS WHEN THE PERSON IS SAYING “THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN TO ME!”
THIS IS A CONSCIOUS OR UNCONSCIOUS REFUSAL TO ACCEPT FACTS, INFORMATION, OR REALITY.
STAGE 2
ANGER- THIS IS WHEN THE PERSON IS SAYING “WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?” WHO’S TO BLAME FOR THIS?”
THIS ANGER CAN MANIFEST IN DIFFERENT WAYS. PATIENTS CAN BE ANGRY WITH THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE CLOSE TO THEM.
STAGE 3
BARGAINING- THIS IS WHEN THE PERSON IS SAYING “JUST LET ME LIVE TIL MY DAUGHTERS WEDDING, AND I’LL DO ANYTHING”
THIS IS WHEN PATIENTS FACING DEATH CAN INVOLVE ATTEMPTING TO BARGIN WITH WHATEVER GOD THEY BELIEVE IN.
STAGE 4
DEPRESSION- THIS IS WHEN THE PERSON IS SAYING “I AM TOO SAD TO DO ANYTHING”
THIS STAGE SHOWS THAT THE PERSON HAS AT LEAST BEGUN TO ACCEPT REALITY.
STAGE 5
ACCEPTANCE- THIS IS WHEN THE PERSON IS SAYING “I AM AT PEACE WITH WHAT IS COMING”
THIS STAGE VARIES ACCORDING TO THE PERSON’S SITUATION. PEOPLE DYING CAN ENTER THIS STAGE A LONG TIME BEFORE THE PEOPLE THEY LEAVE BEHIND.
THERE IS A QUOTE FROM KUBLER-ROSS THAT I REALLY LIKE AND IT SAYS
“ITS ONLY WHEN WE TRULY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A LIMITED TIME ON EARTH- AND THAT WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN OUR TIME IS UP, WE WILL THEN BEGIN TO LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST, AS IF IT WAS THE ONLY ONE WE HAD.”
TO ADD TO THIS- I BELIEVE IF WE STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF- STOP JUDGING THE BOOK BY ITS COVER- SPEND QUALITY...