Research Paper: The Mourning Process and Grief The mourning process is experienced at the death or loss of a family member, friend, pet, or thing that an individual has formed an attachment to. People grieve for many different reasons. For the purpose of this research paper, the death of a close individual and the grief felt because of the loss of that person will be examined. Though, it is important to note that grief can be felt in many different circumstances such as during a divorce, moving away from a dear friend, or in any scenario where loss of the attached person, animal, or object occurs. (Kubler-Ross) Typically, mourning is associated with death. All people from all walks of life experience grief differently. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swiss-American psychiatrist, made remarkable progress in the study of the mourning process when she published her five stages grief in the 1969 book “On Death and Dying” (1969).
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Absent grief can take a toll on the human body. Denying one’s feelings can not only lead to poor mental health but declining physical health as well. Symptoms may include panic attacks, troubled breathing or walking, and depression. When symptoms appear unexpectedly, sometimes the underlying cause may be absent grief. Some countries recognize the importance of the grieving process and offer paid bereavement leave such as Chile, China, and Spain. However, in the United States, bereavement leave is not mandated. (Meagher, 2013) Grief often interferes with work and school and in the United States, an acceptable period of time to grieve is short and opposite of what the bereaved really need during this painful period of time. It can be isolating and people may turn to unhealthy behaviors such as drinking or drugs to numb their emotions during this
Absent grief can take a toll on the human body. Denying one’s feelings can not only lead to poor mental health but declining physical health as well. Symptoms may include panic attacks, troubled breathing or walking, and depression. When symptoms appear unexpectedly, sometimes the underlying cause may be absent grief. Some countries recognize the importance of the grieving process and offer paid bereavement leave such as Chile, China, and Spain. However, in the United States, bereavement leave is not mandated. (Meagher, 2013) Grief often interferes with work and school and in the United States, an acceptable period of time to grieve is short and opposite of what the bereaved really need during this painful period of time. It can be isolating and people may turn to unhealthy behaviors such as drinking or drugs to numb their emotions during this