Introduction
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swiss-American psychiatrist, revolutionized the field of death and dying with her groundbreaking work on the five stages of dying. In her book On Death and Dying, she outlined these stages as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. In fact, these stages are more often perceived as a cyclical process that people go through when confronting their own death or the loss of a loved one.
Dying Stages
Denial and Anger
The first stage is denial, which acts as a protective mechanism to keep individuals safe from overpowering feelings. Cancer patients are an example of this since they continue to live their lives as if nothing has changed despite medical proof to the contrary. The second stage is anger, which occurs when people see the truth of their position and understand they have no control over it (Corr, 2018). For example, someone who has unexpectedly lost a loved one may get furious with the physicians for not rescuing them or at themselves for not being able to prevent it.
Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance
The third stage is bargaining, which entails seeking to bargain with a higher power in order to postpone or prevent death entirely. A prominent example is terminally sick individuals who seek alternative medicine or experimental therapies despite scant proof of efficacy (Corr, 2018). The fourth stage is depression, which is marked by feelings of melancholy, hopelessness, and despair. An illustration of this stage can be observed in elderly individuals who have lost their lifelong partners and subsequently become isolated and withdrawn from society. Acceptance is the ultimate step, which entails coming to grips with death or loss (Tyrrell et al., 2023). Hospice patients who have accepted their fate and are able to find consolation in spending quality time with loved ones or indulging in activities that bring them joy are examples of this stage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s five stages of dying provide a framework for understanding the emotional journey individuals go through when facing death or loss. These phases may not be experienced in a linear manner, but they nonetheless provide essential insights into the intricate grieving process. Through examples such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, it becomes evident that these stages are universal experiences that can help individuals navigate the challenging terrain of death and dying.
References
Corr, C. A. (2018). Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and the “Five stages” model in a sampling of recent American Textbooks. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 82(2). Web.
Tyrrell, P., Harberger, S., Schoo, C., & Siddiqui, W. (2023). Stages of dying. Web.