Death and Stages of Grief

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Grand Canyon University *

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302

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Arts Humanities

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by ColonelSnakePerson479

Death and Stages of Grief Kelsey Parker Grand Canyon University HLT 302 Dr.Myrna Thurmond Malone 24 December 2023

Death and Stages of Grief Introduction The experience of death and grief is a natural part of life, and everyone copes with it in their own way. To fully understand the grieving process, it's important to comprehend the meaning of death. Losing someone can take a toll emotionally, as it's a personal experience that affects everyone differently. However, as time passes and acceptance sets in, it can also bring about positive changes. Grief can manifest itself in a variety of ways, impacting one's mental, physical, and social wellbeing. Nicholas Wolterstorff's "Lament for a Son" is a book that chronicles the loss of his son in a mountain climbing accident, and it has served as a helpful resource for those dealing with their own grief and tragedy (Wolterstorff, 1987). Medical and Philosophical Meaning of Death The medical term for death is when a person loses all of their brain functions, meaning they are brain dead. ( Sabom, n.d). According to the philosophical definition, death occurs when a person's entire brain becomes irreversibly non-functional, and they cannot breathe independently without the use of a medical respirator. At this point, they are considered deceased (DeGrazia, 2021). From a Christian standpoint, death is a complex concept that encompasses both spiritual and physical aspects. For Christians,

death represents a struggle between the belief in eternal life after death and the fear of God's wrath, as well as uncertainty about what lies beyond (Shelly & Miller, 2006). The ultimate aspiration of Christians is to encounter God after death and spend eternity in heaven worshiping Him. The five stages of grief and identified by Wolterstorff's experiences Wolterstorff lost his twenty-five-year-old son in a tragic mountain climbing accident. This experience would be challenging for anyone, but it is crucial to understand the five stages of grief that people go through to grasp what Wolterstorff is going through in this story. Stage One of the Kübler-Ross model suggests the first stage of grief is denial, which helps to process the loss in one’s own time. In the given story, Wolterstorff was in denial that his son was dead. He thought he saw him everywhere he went (Casabianca, 2021). This state of shock that people go through when they hear the terrible news of losing a loved one hits hard. Stage Two of grief is anger, which is expected. The pain of grief may come to some as anger, and it can affect anyone and make it easier to heal. Wolterstorff felt anger as his son was no longer there; he still had five kids, but one was always gone (Casabianca, 2021). The third stage of grief, known as bargaining, refers to a time when an individual may feel compelled to do anything to restore their life to the way it was before their loss. During this

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