The Big Picture
by Glynn Wilson

The Kübler-Ross model, commonly known as the five stages of grief, was first introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying. Perhaps with a tad of literary license, we might apply that to how people are feeling on the Gulf Coast and those inland also suffering the tragedy in person, on television or Facebook.

The theory describes, in five discrete stages, a process by which people deal with grief and tragedy, especially when diagnosed with a terminal illness or catastrophic loss (such as the environment and economy of the Gulf Coast).

Her book brought mainstream awareness to the sensitivity required for better treatment of individuals who are dealing with a fatal disease or going through the anxiety and stress of any major tragedy.

Just in the past decade, Americans have experienced 9/11, Katrina, two major wars, one we started based on bad intel and bad executive judgment. There was also that giant coal ash avalanche in Kingston, Tennessee back two Christmases ago, which did not get anywhere near the press coverage of this disaster (but we were there).

Now the BP Gulf Oil Death Flood of 2010.

What can you say? Where are you now on this scale?

Stage 1: Denial – “I feel fine” or “this can’t be happening, not to me. Not here. Not now.”

Perhaps people at first felt denial, that first week after April 20 when we didn’t yet know they had no plan to stop the leak after the explosion and 11 died.

Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual, according to the theory, although there appear to be some Americans who like to show their ignorance on Facebook, who are still in this stage.

This feeling is generally replaced with heightened awareness of situations and individuals that will be left behind after the tragedy.

Stage 2: Anger – “Why me? It’s not fair!” or “How can this happen to me, here, now?” or “Who is to blame?”

Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy. Any individual that symbolizes life or energy is subject to projected resentment and jealousy.

There are still a lot of angry people on the coast, who do not feel mercy or justice has come in big enough and fast enough to ease their pain.

Stage 3: Bargaining – “Just let me live to see my children be OK,” or “I’ll do anything for a few more years,” or “I will give my life savings if…”

Maybe we could turn the tide somehow over this spill, or at least pay for the cleanup and reimburse everybody with losses.

The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay total disaster.

Stage 4: Depression – “I’m so sad, why bother with anything?” or “My life as I knew it was over, so what’s the point?”

During the fourth stage, the effected person begins to understand the certainty of the ultimate tragedy. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and grieving. This process allows the dying person to disconnect oneself from things of love and affection. It is not recommended to attempt to cheer up an individual who is in this stage. It is an important time for grieving that must be processed.

How many of you have hit this stage yet?

Stage 5: Acceptance – “It’s going to be okay.” or “I can’t fight it, I may as well prepare for it.”

In this last stage, the individual begins to come to terms with their mortality or that of their loved one or the lost sea, the failed business, etc…

Somehow, life must go on!

Most likely the human species, and maybe even the planet, will survive.

It’s just that there are days, you know, when it doesn’t look like a sustainable proposition.

Humans and the earth, that is…

Tags: by Glynn Wilson, commonly known as the five stages of grief, The Big Picture, The Big Picture: The Five Stages of Grief on the Gulf, The Five Stages of Grief on the Gulf, The Kübler-Ross model

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 10:09 pm and is filed under BP Oil Spill, Environment News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.