Understanding the process of loss and grief
To undertake this assessment I have looked up the meaning of the words Loss and Grief to help me to begin to understand the process. Loss is defined as being the condition of being deprived or bereaved of something or someone(1) and grief is being defined as a deep mental anguish, as arising from bereavement(2). Grief is a natural response to loss and is a process that occurs over time. It involves a range of feelings, thoughts and behaviours. The most common loss associated with grief is the death of a loved one. Some situations may involve multiple losses like someone with a terminal illness such as cancer. They can mourn and grieve over the loss of a breast, loss of fertility, loss …show more content…
Kubler Ross’s focus was all on death and bereavement although the ‘grief cycle’ is useful for understanding all loss and grief processes. Kubler Ross’s theory is that the grief process will pass through five stages. The five stages being,
Denial – A conscious or unconscious refusal to accept facts, information and reality etc.
Anger – People dealing with emotional upset can be angry with themselves and/or with others, much more so with the people closet and start blaming others for what happened.
Bargaining – Individuals may take a spiritual response and attempt to bargain/negotiate with their God.
Depression – Around this stage people may experience social withdrawal, lack of energy and motivation and distance themselves from loved …show more content…
In the past it was seen to mourn in black, draw curtains and close blinds and to take time away from social interaction. Now times are evolving and people don’t mourn like they used to. It is more common now to celebrate the life of the deceased and wear bright colours to their funeral. It is now a common sight to see women play a big part in the burial process and take the cords of the coffin as it is lowered into the ground. Each society specifies manners such as rituals, styles of dress or other habits, as well as the attitudes in which the bereaved are encouraged to take part. Different cultures grieve in different ways that are vital in coping with the death of a loved one. The Bahai faith do not permit embalming unless it is required by law. Believers also bury the body within one hours travel time from the place of the death because they discourage becoming attached to any particular geographic site. They never cremate their dead and instead the dead body is wrapped in a shroud and buried normally wearing the Bahai burial ring. The Bahai funeral service is relaxed and designed to accommodate personal preferences of the family and the service is carried out by relatives. Traditional clothes are not worn by guests and they can wear what they choose. They may also choose to have an additional memorial service planned by relatives where they will chant their “prayer for the dead(15). The Islamic faith