The Five Stages of Grief according to
The Five Stages of Grief according to
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
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Denial
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross describes denial as our body's natural defense mechanism as loss can be a great shock to our bodies and minds. Denial is a way of protecting ourselves and exists as a stage to give us some time to absorb what has happened. This stage includes feelings of shock, fear, anxiety, numbness, confusion, and avoidance.
Anger
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross describes denial as our body's natural defense mechanism as loss can be a great shock to our bodies and minds. Denial is a way of protecting ourselves and exists as a stage to give us some time to absorb what has happened. This stage includes feelings of shock, fear, anxiety, numbness, confusion, and avoidance.
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
History of the Stages
Dr. Kübler-Ross introduced the five stages of grief in her book On Death and Dying in 1969. After becoming frustrated with the lack of knowledge surrounding dying and grief, Kübler-Ross began interviewing hospice patients and examining their experiences. The five stages of grief are based on the anecdotes of these patients, over two hundred in total. After criticism related to a belief the stages are intended to be linear, Kübler-Ross clarified that they are not "law" or set in stone: each stage may be felt in any order or not at all. The original work was intended as a guide for caregivers and health care providers who were working with terminally ill patients, but has become a staple across the globe.
Contemporary Thoughts
Plenty of criticism exists against the Kübler-Ross stages, generally surrounding the lack of research and evidence behind the theory. Sometimes referred to as outdated, grief researchers have moved away from the stage model in favor of attempting to understand the more individualized nature of grief. Today mental health professionals look to the stages as a helpful tool, not as fact or a direct guidebook.
References
Kübler-Ross, E. (1970). On death and dying. Collier Books/Macmillan Publishing Co.
Tyrrell P, Harberger S, Siddiqui W. Stages of Dying. [Updated 2021 Apr 6]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507885/
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