Healthy Grief and Kubler-Ross Model - Essay Example

The five stages are:
1. Denial:
This first stage is the refusal to accept the facts. It is a conscious or unconscious defense mechanism by the individual against the situation (Kubler-Ross, 1969).

2. Anger:
In this second stage, the individual recognizes that denial is not an option left to him anymore. An individual at this stage is angry with him or his loved ones (Kubler-Ross, 1969).

3. Bargaining:
This stage involves an individual bargaining with God to postpone his death. This stage is marked by a hope to achieve any position in the bargain with a promise of a reformed lifestyle (Kubler-Ross, 1969).

4. Depression:
This is an important stage as it is associated with initial acceptance of certainty of death. The individual in this stage becomes emotionally detached from himself and others (Kubler-Ross, 1969).

5. Acceptance:
This stage exhibits complete acceptance of death by the individual (Kubler-Ross, 1969).
Ross's model does not involve any interaction with joy at any stage. However, as it acknowledges the individuality of individuals it does not ignore the chance of any joy. A unique individual may not necessarily deny his death but welcome it with joy. It all depends upon the individual.

The Story of Job
The story of Job is about how a devoted Christian survived God’s test when Satan took away all of his life luxuries, and his offspring and gave him a fatal skin disease. Job suffered great loss and so had great grief for his misery. However, he in his grief never cursed or blamed God for anything (Kroll, n.d.). This story exhibits that trials are God's tests to gauge our love for him and are an opportunity for us to exhibit our faith in God (Kroll, n.d.). Job’s story indicates that joy is for those who remain strong and patient during God’s trial for them. Joy is the reward for passing the test. In this story, joy interacts at the end in the form of a reward for Job.

Buddhism
In Buddhism, there is no appreciation for grief and it does not allow celebrated grief. Buddhism advises that grief and sufferings are bad things and one should eliminate their causes. According to Buddhism teachings, one should have equal love and compassion toward all sentient beings so that strong affection will not work together to cause grief (Autumn, Workman & Newkirk, 1999).

In case of death according to Buddhism, nothing more could be done besides praying for an individual’s more fortunate rebirth. One should accept the universality of death.
Personal Experience

The research that I have conducted on the grieving process strengthens my belief that grieving is a very personal experience. I like to celebrate grief alone so that it does not hurt or influence other people around me. I face grief with a headstrong approach and do not deny it. This research has not changed my views on handling grief but has strengthened them. Read More