Monday, October 25, 2010

Video Clip On Grief

If you've read a bit about grief you've probably noticed key words like denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Those, in fact, are the five stages of grief when someone is dying, as put forth by psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her book On Death and Dying, 1969.

People often think that these stages of grief are rigid phases one must go through one after another, but it's better to allow for some variance and flexibility. Each individual is unique and mourns at their own pace, with their own combinations and synonyms of "the stages." Grief is a variable process. I recommend the book Grieving: Our Path Back to Peace by James R. White for a good explanation.

For a quick summary, however, I found a video clip for you today that addresses briefly outlines the journey and answers this question: I have heard that grief is a process. If that is true, then what are the phases of the process and will I ever be done with the grieving process?


You'll have to click on this link but it will be well worth the travel. You'll find a six-minute video featuring Dr. Henry Cloud with a good summation of the grief process. Christian psychologists Cloud & Townsend address many issues on their Solutions for Life website, so you might find a lot to interest you.

I urge you to view this video. And then delve into this storm--become a student of your own grief. Learn about the process, recognize the phases or feelings of this letting go and surrendering experience.

Dr. Cloud talks about surrounding yourself with support structures and people who can hold you up. As he says, grieving is meant to be within community. That's the purpose of WCP, to reinforce and hold you; its one of a variety of places from which you can draw strength and support. Also find friends, a church family, a grief support group and a few good books. Like Cloud says, find a time, a place and people to grieve with who will provide relationship and support. And then, lean on them all and grieve, my friend.

As far as this blog goes, that's why I'm here. Whether you find helpful information, role models, or one-on-one correspondance, feel free to take what you need from Widows Christian Place. May the Lord fill you and make you whole again. ferree

2 comments:

  1. Do you people have a facebook fan page? I looked for one on twitter but could not discover one, I would really like to become a fan!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry, I don't tweet, but you can follow this blog or friend me on Facebook and I'll introduce you to some groups there.

    ReplyDelete

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