Grieving is a process that everyone has to undergo especially once they experience loss. Grief is a natural process that helps people to get to terms with the great loss they have suffered. People need to grieve to help in mitigating their descent to acute depression. This is because when people suppress their feelings, depression begins to fester, and although it might not be visible at first, it eventually becomes apparent. The number of ageing people is on the rise, and so is the number of chronic diseases. During this current pandemic, it is likely for a chronic COVID-19 patient to be in the ICU of HDU depending on their vital signs. The dependent of such a patient must prepare for the patient's death. They may do this by understanding grief and its five stages to ensure they do not suppress their feelings but facilitate their eventual healing.
Stages of grieving
The first stage of grieving that they must prepare for is the denial and isolation phase. In this stage, the person suffering from the loss tries to survive it by getting numb and wondering how best to get over it (Kübler-Ross, 2014). Denial and isolation will help the grieving party to let in only the feelings that they can handle; one at a time. In this stage, one gets stronger with time to let all the feelings they were denying to show instead of pacing them. This stage is, therefore, important because it helps in buffering someone after unexpected, shocking news (Kübler-Ross, 2014). The next stage in the grieving process is anger. Anger is a necessary felling in the second stage since it allows one to open a bridge from themselves to connect with others (Kübler-Ross, 2014). This anger might have no limit and may spread from the grieving party to the people in their surrounding or even the doctor or the lost loved one. This anger must not be suppressed as it an indication of the love one felt for their dead loved one.
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The third stage of grief is bargaining which occurs once the grieving party comes to term with their anger. Bargaining after a loss will be characterized by wishful thinking that is aimed at restoring the life of the loved one. Bargaining is beneficial to the grieving party in brief periods of time as it showcases guilt on the grieving party's side (Kübler-Ross, 2014). The fourth stage is depression which comes after one accepts that bargaining will not amount to any of their desires. In this stage, the grieving party can no longer deny their loss and grief increases immensely (Kübler-Ross, 2014). The depressive moment could last for long but should not be mistaken with mental illness as it is a part of the grieving process. Depression is important as it is a tool to prepare individuals to accept their situation (Kübler-Ross, 2014). Depression will eventually go away as it is only necessary for one to heal after the loss.
Acceptance is the fifth stage in the grieving process. This stage should not be confused with being okay as most people who have experienced loss never get back to feeling the same way they did before the event (Kübler-Ross, 2014). Acceptance is much smoother when the grieving party has had enough time to come to terms with the potential loss of their loved one. Acceptance should also not be confused for a joyful period but rather one where the grief-stricken party is almost void of feelings. The grieving party merely realizes that the loss is a reality that they must come to terms with it (Kübler-Ross, 2014). It is beneficial as it facilitates healing by allowing grieving individuals to make new connections and live again.
Conclusion
Grief is a feeling that most people who undergo loss end up feeling. It is important for social workers to understand grief and the stages that one goes through because loss and suffering go together. Social workers often work with people who have undergone such losses, and they must understand the stages to help in rehabilitating and facilitating healing for their clients. Grief allows people to manage their loss without plunging into acute depression. People should not suppress their grief as it may have dire consequences on their health and well-being.
References
Kübler-Ross, E.(2014). On death and dying; What the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy& their own families. Scribner .
