Death, Dying and Grieving
The term death is used to refer to the permanent cessation of every biological function that allows for the sustenance of living organisms. The most common causes of death are homicide, aging, electrocution, organ or psychological failure, dehydration, warfare attacks, poisoning, severe burns, diseases, intense heat, predation, asphyxia, malnutrition, radiation toxicity, malnutrition, drug intoxication, drowning, starvation as well as major trauma or accidents that result in fatal injury (Santrock 2019).
Classmate One Response
Classmate one thinks that coping with the loss of a family member, or a close friend could be one of the hardest things that most people face, and when one loses a parent, spouse, or siblings, the grief resulting from such death could be intense. Death is generally part of the natural life of humans; however, it could lead to confusion and shock, which increases the time for sadness or depression. I agree with the classmate one that death inflicts a certain type of pain to those who are left behind mostly by a loved one. People react differently to death, and they use personal coping mechanisms to grief. It is through healthy habits and social support that some individuals get to recover from their loss as time passes on. Classmate one argues that it can go for months or even a year before the individual comes to terms with a loss.
I agree that there is no time period, which could be said that one can grieve. According to research, many people do not undergo stages as progressive steps. Human beings were created in a way that they can endure losses and continue with their lives; however, there are those individuals who can take even longer periods grieving. Such individuals require assistance from psychologists or mental health professionals who mainly specialize in grief. Classmate one thinks that grief comes even before death arrives, and it starts when people get to know that death is a likelihood. When it comes to such a point, people start grieving naturally. This is grief that comes before death, and it is a bit different from the grief that comes after death, which carries the regular symptoms of grief that may include depression, sadness, forgetfulness, anger, and isolation.
I agree with classmate one that the grief that comes after death is not only about accepting the loss but also many other losses that occur during the illness process on the individual. Using the dual-process model, an individual is able to undergo the loss-oriented process and the restoration-oriented stressors that enable one to get on with their daily life hence distracting one from the grief for some time.
Classmate Two Response
I agree with Classmate two in arguing that the dual-process model has two processes that allow those individuals who are grieving to have a healthier method of coping through crying venting of feelings as well as relying on friends for support. Grieving, while looking at the past image of a loved one, is an example of loss-oriented coping. Grieving as one hangs with friends or by running errands, these activities could help such individuals in getting their minds off the sadness of losing a loved one (Stroebe & Schut, 2015). Classmate two argues that different people grieve differently or have different ways of coping and gives an example of how he grieved for his high school friends and could not talk to anyone because he was mad and did not understand why they had to be taken away from him so soon.
The classmate had a hard time coping but eventually went for counseling and though that it would be appropriate for people to rely on each other and never keep stuff for themselves. I agree with both the writers that death causes pain to those who lose their loved ones, however, different people grieve differently, and it is for this reason that the dual-process model could be very helpful to those grieving since it helps them to continue living as normal in the quickest way possible hence limiting longer periods of grief by most people.
References
Santrock J.W. (2019) Lifespan Development. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Stroebe, M., & Schut, H. (2015). Family matters in bereavement: Toward an integrative intra-interpersonal coping model. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(6), 873-879.