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Dr. Gloria Offers a Formal Reponse to Chicago Tribune’s “Scientists meaure 5 stages of Grief”

Posted on February 23, 2007 - by admin

Dear Dr. Prigerson, I just wanted to share with you the response to Ronald Kotulak’s article that we will be putting on our blog.? We have been receiving angry e-mails regarding his generalizing your study to bereaved parents.? If you or the other authors have any comments please send them off to us and we will add them to the blog.? We will also be talking about the article on our internet radio show next Thursday.? Thanks, Gloria Horsley ? This is a response to the article From the Chicago Tribune Scientists measure 5 stages of Grief by Ronald Kotulak, […]

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Scientists measure 5 stages of grief

Posted on February 23, 2007 - by admin

Most people’s anguish eases after six months; others might need treatment, study finds By Ronald Kotulak Tribune science reporter Published February 20, 2007, 10:31 PM CST (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0702210198feb21,1,938128.story) When a loved one dies, people go through five stages of grieving, according to accepted wisdom: disbelief, yearning, anger, depression and acceptance. Now the first large-scale study to examine the five stages suggests that they are accurate, and that if a person has not moved through the negative stages in six months, he or she may need professional help dealing with the bereavement. The study, published in Wednesday’s issue of the Journal of […]

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A Response from Dr. Heidi

Posted on February 23, 2007 - by admin

As far as the term “acceptance” goes, I don’t know how the authors are operationally defining this term.? They might be defining it as “realizing that the death is permanent and the person is not going to return.”? What I would like to have more info. on is:? I would like to see the sample broken down more (I need to see the original study).? Possibly those that are still depressed after 6 mos. are those that lost children.? Those that are not depressed might be people who have lost elderly parents.? I think the age of the person that […]

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Response to “5 Stages of Grief Scientific Study”

Posted on February 23, 2007 - by admin

The scientific study that is referred to in this article is NOT scientific. I do not know how this study was conducted nor is that important, but the conclusions drawn are erroneous. How can you measure the depth of grief? One cannot say that dealing with grief after a sudden loss is more difficult than dealing with loss after illness. The only way you could know that is if one lost the same loved one in both ways-which of course is impossible. A person who lost a loved one after a long illness may look at someone else?s sudden loss […]

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Poem: To Tucker, Our Sweetie Boy

Posted on February 23, 2007 - by admin

They say you’re in Heaven To comfort, I guess. Don’t they know that Your presence we miss? In God we take solace Each and every day, But our loss of you hurts us anyway. We only got to enjoy you for a little while. Humor and laughter were definitely your style. Your animals, Buddy, Postulio and Sushi are still here. What they are thinking isn’t quite clear. Our memories of you are never ending. But certainly don’t replace time together we were spending. Remnants of you litter our house. Not a thing has been changed In hopes of your return. […]

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For Widows Only–6 Ways To Have A Happier New Year

Posted on February 23, 2007 - by Abel Keogh

Happy New Year! Yeah, I know. You’re thinking what’s with this writer? Life sucks without Him by your side. How dare she use the H word and wish me a Happy New Year. Well, I feel your pain. Really, I do, because I am a widow, too. But, I’m here to tell you, everything will be alright. No, it won’t be like it was before He left. But yes, you can and you will get through 2007–With a smile.

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Anna Nicole Smith’s Sudden Death is Unexplainable

Posted on February 15, 2007 - by admin

Anna Nicole Smith’s death fascinates me. For one reason the public reaction to the death is as intense as the death itself. The public craves to know why and how she died. We want to blame something. A sudden death leaves people with many unanswered questions and it can affect grieving for years. The idea that a death can occur for no apparent reason is just unacceptable.

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Life on Hold-The Weight of Death

Posted on February 15, 2007 - by admin

For the past few days I?ve been walking around feeling like there?s a big weight hanging over me ready to fall at any moment. Getting things done has been a chore. Making plans beyond the next day has taken all of my willpower. It feels as though my life is on hold and that I?m just waiting.

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Grief: Then and Now

Posted on February 14, 2007 - by admin

Over one hundred years ago, during the Victorian era, death and grief were popular subjects for poems, songs and stories. Grieving was considered a natural and acceptable part of the culture. People in mourning wore black clothing and/or black arm bands, women wore black veils, and it was common to see a black wreath on the door of the home of a bereaved family, announcing publicly that this was a home of sorrow. Bereavement was conspicuous and there were very specific societal customs designed to support people during the mourning process. However, during that same era, no person of breeding […]

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Honoring the Dead

Posted on February 14, 2007 - by admin

Honoring the dead is accomplished in a myriad of ways and degrees, depending on culture, religion, and present social perspective. Most cultures pay respects to their dead in the funeral event. The Irish have the stereotypical ” wake ” , where they laugh , cry, and converse at length about the loved one’s life- good and bad.

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