Assignment| Understanding and Overcoming Grief
Assignment Healthy Grief
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Details:
Perform a literature search on the grieving process, using readings from this module, the
GCU Library, or other websites and materials at your disposal. Focus on the work of
K’bler-Ross’ grieving process and the stages of grief.
Review the story of Job in the Bible, focusing on his suffering and grief. Examine how this
story correlates to the grieving process defined by K’bler-Ross.
In a paper of 750-1,000 words, include the following:
- Compare and contrast the grieving process as defined by K’bler-Ross and the story of
Job with that of at least one other religion. - Compare the relationship and interaction between joy and the above grieving models
and examples. - Relate your research to your own preferred method of handling grief. State whether
your research has changed your view of grief.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide,
located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
Understanding and Overcoming Grief: Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s Theory and Job’s
Suffering
Comparison between Job’s story and Kubler-Ross’s Theory
In Dr. Kubler-Ross’ book, On Death and Dying, she clearly indicates that only some
people experience all the five grief stages. Moreover, she asserts that people do not necessarily
have to experience these stages in the order she identified. Kubler-Ross points out that there are
5 stages involved in the grieving process and they occur following this order; denial: irrespective
of the pain being experienced, a person argues to be okay (Kübler-Ross, 1969). Life is seen as
meaningless. However, the stage helps a person to encounter grief feeling as well as survive the
loss fearlessly.
Anger: here, a person tries enquiring why there are nasty occurrences in his life and if
there is anyone who can be blamed for the happenings. Bargaining: a person tries weighing what
should and should not occur to him (Kübler-Ross, 1969). He also tries formulating the essential
UNDERSTANDING AND OVERCOMING GRIEF
measures for postponing challenges. Depression: a person thinks that it is worthless caring about
the problem since he will either succumb to death or the problem will persevere regardless of the
measures put in place. Acceptance: there is preparation for results.
Job’s story in the Bible correlates to the grief process narrated by Kubler-Ross. Job lost
all the physical, financial, spiritual, and emotional things that he had received from God. He fell
sick, the wife was against him, and he lost his children and belongings. Although Job’s wife
advised him to forsake God so as to evade the suffering he was experiencing, he declined
listening to her. In Job 1:21, there is evident denial as he claims that God gave and has taken. In
Chapter 10, Job perceives that God has denied him as he is conscious of his innocence. In
Chapter, Job expresses anger when enquiring if God ever gives anything good. Anger is also
apparent in Job 7: 11 where he claims that he will lament in the soul and will not just remain
silent (Gangoli, n.d.).
Job bargains in Chapter 9 when enquiring if there can be a mediator between God and
him, and remove the rod placed on him by God so that he can no longer be frightened. Job
experienced depression throughout his whole suffering. Job 10: 18 questions his being in the
world and wishes he had died before anyone knew him. In Job 13: 15, Job decides to hope in
God regardless of all the occurrences (Gangoli, n.d.). During a conversation in chapter 42,
acceptance is experienced after Job fathoms that God was merely testing his faith and love for
Him.
Therefore, in both cases, denial, bargaining, and anger are evident. Acceptance comes as
the final stage. However, in Kubler-Ross’ theory, depression is the 4 th stage but Job experiences
it throughout his grieving process. Job rotates through the stages identified by Kubler-Ross.
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Joy and grieving models
It is very hard to have joy during challenging periods (Elizabeth, 1977). Finding joy and
rejoicing are the same, and act as an efficient measure against grief. It is important for healthcare
practitioners to devise measures that make patients jovial after going through the acceptance
stage. for example, patients can participate in activities that leave fantastic memories, conversing
with loved ones, being peaceful to find joy, and journaling of thoughts. The patient and relatives
can work together to create a jovial environment. Provider can create joy in patients through
encouraging them, being compassionate towards them, and smiling to them. This assists patients
in transitioning to joy (Elizabeth, 1977).
Grief and joy permeate listening hearts and can be imagined to be twin sisters. The
feeling depths of the two are incomprehensible. Moreover, the two result to gratefulness; joy
reawakens life’s wonders after experiencing its precariousness and grief arises from realizing the
gravity with which we value things that mean a lot to us.
Handling grief
The 1 st step towards coping with grief is identifying as well as acknowledging that is
exists. Hence, self-awareness and self-reflection are worth (Garrett, 2008). A person should
therefore reflect if he has had any suffering signs or if any close friend or relative has indicated
any signs. As a result, the grief is identified and proper coping mechanisms can be applied.
Affirmation is the 2 nd step and a person should dedicate himself towards solving the grief through
proper care for oneself, validating feelings, and using the accessible resources (Chapman, 2007).
A person should then assess how prepared he is to act. While doing this, a person can use the
self-assessment tool that assesses individual readiness for action and the risks and pros linked to
the action. In case there are uncertainties regarding a particular action, the person should
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consider the rewards, roadblocks, risks, and relevance of the action (Garrett, 2008). Then, actions
are implemented to evacuate the patient from the grieving process and promote a normal life. In
this regard, personal values can be clarified, support sources identified, and some time allocated
for the person to involve in self-care actions. These are useful in that a person is able to address
his feelings (Hodder General Publishing Division, 1992).
The opinion on grief after the research
Evidently, the foregoing research increased knowledge on the grieving process and,
thereby, the view on grief changed. Considering their vital role, healthcare professionals can
either minimize or increase a patient’s grief (Chapman, 2007). Although grief is normal, it
results to a new being. Caregivers, onlookers, and patients have no power of reducing the grief
that goes with daily life shocks and disappointments. However, a person experiencing grief
should be conscious of the self and others throughout the entire process. Words can play a
detrimental role in a majority of the situations since there are usually no solutions to these
situations. The only true option is having a need to continue with life, being ready to grieve,
supporting the process through comforting presence, and seeking hope from renewed focuses in
life. Both attachment and grief are natural processes (Kübler-Ross, 1969). It grief is handled
appropriately, a person gains insight at the end. On the other hand, if handled ruthlessly, the
results are complications. Grief can be manifested emotionally, behaviorally, spiritually, or
physically. Healthcare professionals recommend that a person can partake in a task-oriented
strategy so that he can resolve as well as process he reactions. Grief can also be dealt with
effectively through the Theravadin Buddhist’s mindfulness approach. Mindfulness indicates that
a person is entirely conscious of his mind and body conditions in the present moment. It is
applied in modern psychotherapies and task-oriented approaches (Hodder General Publishing
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Division, 1992). It helps a person to acknowledge the reality of loss more efficiently and allow
the pain to manifest while avoiding complications.
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References
Chapman, E. (2007). The caregiver medications: Reflections on loving presence. Nashville:
Vaughn Printing.
Kübler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying: What the dying have to teach doctors, nurses,
clergy, and their own families. New York: Macmillan.
Elizabeth, K. (1977). On death and dying. London: Macmillan.
Garrett, G. (2008). Stories from the Edge: A Theology of Grief. Louisville, Kentucky:
Westminster John Knox Press
Hodder General Publishing Division. (1992). New International Version Bible. Hodder General
Publishing Division.
Gangoli, N. (n.d.). This too shall pass.