Significant Life Events and Coping

This study explores the impact of significant life events on coping strategies and decision-making. It discusses the stages of Kubler Ross theory of grief and suggests coping strategies for dealing with the possible move. The strategies include emotional support, task-oriented activities, and problem-focused approaches. By understanding and implementing these strategies, individuals can navigate through challenging life events and live a happier life.

Significant Life Events and Coping
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Kubler Ross theory of grief for analysing as how move of Paul and Douglas might impact
upon Paul and his social work.....................................................................................................3
3 coping strategies which Paul may use to cope with the possible move (850)..........................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
Significant event can be defined as any unintended events that can lead to harm, problems
and grief (Michael and et.al., 2018). This study is based on a case of Paul and Douglas who have
been in a relationship but now Douglas got an opportunity of a job for which he would have to
move into another place. Paul does not want to move. This study will discuss all stages of Kubler
Ross theory of grief that can help Paul in deciding that what will be better for him. It will further
discuss some coping strategies that can also help him out in solving this problem and living a
happy life.
Kubler Ross theory of grief for analysing as how move of Paul and Douglas might impact upon
Paul and his social work
Before discussing Kubler Ross grief theory, it is important to understand the case of Paul
and Douglas. In this case, it is found that they both are in relationship since 3 years and Paul had
been hoping since long that they would be getting married. But after some days, Douglas has got
an opportunity of a good job but for that they both would have to move into Scotland. But Paul
does not want to live far away from his family and closest friends and he would have to live his
job if he moves into Scotland with Douglas. But Doulas does not want to change his decision of
moving into Scotland. So, it is important to understand that if they both move into Scotland then
how it would affect their personal, professional and social life. With the help of Kubler theory,
all consequences and impacts can be known that move into Scotland would have on Paul.
Kubler Ross theory: This is a grief theory that consists of 5 elements. On the basis of
elements that it consists of, it become easier to understand as why people feel sorrow and how
sadness can affect their whole life. By understanding all main 5 stages of this grief theory,
impacts that move of Paul will have on his life can be understood. 5 common stages of this
theory includes: denial, anger, depression, acceptance and bargaining (Roth and et.al., 2019). By
understanding each stage of this grief model, it can better be understood as how will move and
decision of move to Scotland can affect social life of Paul and how can these problems be solved
out.
Denial: It is stage that can help people in surviving the loss as when people loss something
then they start denying news and any kind of information and become numb. They start believing
that now life has no meaning for them. Having this feeling is normal when people loss something
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and suddenly their life gets changed and things get changed. People start to believe that now they
have to live this life in which of called preferable reality. This stage when people start denying
then it affects on them at one time. Once the shock and denial starts to fade that the process of
healing begins. So, on the basis of this stage of this theory, it can be said that if Paul denies
moving with Douglas in Scotland then also he would get affected also. Denial of moving into
another country can also have impact on their personal life. But initially it would affect his life,
after sometime it may become normal for him as things when they gets changed then people take
time to accept them and moving them from that.
Anger: After living in actual reality rather than preferable, people start to get aggressive
and this feeling is also a common and people starts thinking that why this thing is happening
with me. This feeling and thinking makes him/her more aggressive and depressive. People start
showing their anger on their closest friends and family. Researchers have found that this stage of
grief is common for all people and sometimes it is important to feel the anger. It is also stated in
this regard that stopping from being aggressive and to stop ourselves from being angry can also
have negative impacts. It is also normal that when people face and experiences some grief events
then they might feel disconnect from reality and they start feeling that there is nothing solid to
hold onto. In regard to Paul, it can be said that if he unwillingly moves with Douglas into
Scotland and leaves his job then it will affect their relationship. Because of anger Paul might hurt
himself and Douglas and will blame Douglas if something negative and unfavourable things
happen after moving into Scotland. Leaving family, friends and professional life all at one time
affect the whole social life (Friedrich and Wüstenhagen, 2017). People become frustrated as it
affects their mental health. So, as per this stage of grief it can be said that Paul needs to make
Douglas understand that if they move into Scotland then they will have to live far away from
their families and friends that can be difficult for them. For being in a happy relationship and
living a healthy and happy life it is important to live at a place that can make them feel happy.
Bargaining: Bargaining is a stage when people start to talk with god and ask them for
making their life happier and make their life easier. In this stage, after suffering a lot, people start
to seek help from people who can help them out in protecting against fear and bad events. They
ask people about making their life easier and doing something that can make them happy. In
return, they make sure to people and god that they will do anything possible that they can do for
make other people happy. They say to god and other people that if they help them out in
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protecting against bad events then they would also strive hard for making them feel happy. Guilt
is common wing man of bargaining. They start predicting things that if they would have done
this then it would have never happened. So, in the regard to Paul case, it can be said that if he
denies to move with Douglas and after that something bad happens then Paul will come at this
stage. He will start feeling then if he had taken decision of moving then things would have been
better. Also, on the other side, if he goes and take decision of moving with him in Scotland then
also if something negative happens then he will think that it would be better if he had not taken
decision it would be better. So, in this case, it can be said that Paul should make Douglas
understand and ask him to not to move into Scotland and he did so then he will support him in
his bad as well as good events (Salah and et.al., 2019). By doing so, negative impacts of grief
event can be decreased.
Depression: Depression is also caused by bad events and grief. Most people associate
depression immediately with grief. It is a present emotion and it represents emptiness that people
when they live in reality. It is a critical stage where people withdraw themselves from life, feel
numb. People do not prefer to be around of people and they prefer to be alone. They also feel
hopelessness. It happens when some bad things and grief events continuous happen in their life.
It makes them feel de-valued and de-motivated. In the context of Paul, it can be said that this
stage will not appear in their life because there is no big deal to move into another country. But if
in case they move out in another country by living job, friends and families then it can make him
feel loneliness to some extent. And if something bad happens in his life continuously then it can
make him depress. It can affect his both physical and mental life.
Acceptance: It is the last stage of grief event and this theory in which people accept the
reality and with happiness they move on in their life. They try to understand that whatever is
happening with them is a part of life and happens with all people. They are not the only one.
When people think like this then they are more likely to be happy in their life. It makes them feel
valued and they tend to live happily with people who are around them. They understand that of
bad things are happing with them then accepting them in an effective manner is not a good thing
but it is important to live a healthy and happy life. So, in the vase of Paul, it can be said that at
some stage, people have to move on in their life and family plays a vital role in living a happy
life (Friedrich and Wüstenhagen, 2017). But by accepting this that it would not change their life
to the great extent and after sometime everything will be fine, can be better for them. Accepting
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the decision, made by Douglas made can make them happy because they have to live with each
others.
So, on the basis of all stages, it can be said that facing all these problems in grief event is
normal but the solution can be made only when people accept them with happily and move on in
their life.
3 coping strategies which Paul may use to cope with the possible move (850)
People at some stage feel depressed and lonely and for that it becomes important to come
out from that stage. They also need to solve out problems that may create some problems in the
future or negative impacts on their social, personal and professional life. In regard to Paul and
Douglas, it can be said that Paul needs to find out some ways by which he can save his
relationship and can also make feel happy. He has 2 options as either he can move in Scotland
with Douglas by leaving his job and family as well as friends or he can deny to Douglas that he
would not move with him and will live in his own country where he is doing job. Both options
might have some negative impacts as both decisions will have some negative impacts on his
social and mental health. So, it is important to take wise decision and with the help of some
coping strategies and skills, he can make himself happy and can also life a healthy life.
Emotional focused strategies: It consists of some strategies related to grief and loss.
This strategy shows ways to cope up or confronting with stressful situations and dealing with
them accordingly. In this type of strategies, people tend to use all those ways that can help out in
regulating their stressful events. In this type of strategy, people seek support from other people
who can solve their problems and make them feel valued and depressed free. In the case of Paul,
it can be said that by seeking emotional help from friends and family to understand his feeling,
he can solve this problem. By searching out someone who can understand his problem and why
he is feeling like this and someone who can make him understand and help in taking better
decision. Emotional support is all about making people feel valued and depressed free by only
understanding his feeling (Kokou-Kpolou and et.al., 2020). There are several advantages of this
strategy as it can help Paul in feeling depressed free as well as taking better decision. It can also
be said that such strategies are associated with negative outcomes may be attributed to the
overrepresentation of negative. People feel relaxed when they share their feelings so, it is
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important for Paul to share his feelings with Douglas and his family members and make him
understand that what he is feeling.
Task oriented: It consists of all efforts that can be done by people in order to solve their
problems. In this type of strategies, people try to make themselves busy in some tasks in order to
make him happy and relieving stress. Some tasks and coping strategies that can help people in
relieving stress include: exercise, talking to others, physical recreation and others, It is believed
that when people focus on physical exercise then it relieves stress and makes them feel valued. It
changes their negative emotions and they try to think positively. It is one of the best coping
strategies that can make people come at adjusting stage of grief theory. They are more likely to
accept all things and believe that whatever is happening is good for them and will make them
beneficial in the future. Some examples of physical exercise and this type o strategy include:
running, team sports, social engagement and others, If Paul do physical exercise and engage him
in social activities then he can keep away himself from stress and negative impacts that may have
on him if he takes decision of moving into Scotland with Douglas (Feeley, Crowe and Doherty,
2019). It is also known as distracting type of strategy in which people tend to distract themselves
from the problem that is affecting them. The main reason of distracting is keeping busy by which
they cannot have time of thinking about the problem. So, overall it can be said that this coping
strategy has several advantages and can have several positive impacts on Paul and his life. He
can take better decision as whether he should move with Douglas or not.
Problem-focused: It is another main effective coping strategy in which people needs to
focus on the main problem that they are suffering from. Rather avoiding problem, it becomes
important for them to face problem, take better decision and develop strategies for solving
problems. In this type of strategy, people find out reasons or causes and on the basis of all causes
they try to solve their problems. By eliminating the source of problem, people protect themselves
against grief and sorrow that they may face in the future. In regard to Paul, it can be said that
rather denying and facing problems in the future, he should focus on talking with Douglas and he
should focus on solving problems. As it is the problem that might create several problems if wise
decision is not being taken (Huh and et.al., 2017). So, it can be said that if Paul and Douglas
make use of this strategy then they can take better decision and can even continue their relation
as well as live happy life.
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CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that grief theory plays a vital role as it helps
people in solving their problems that are leading grief and sorrow in their life. It has discussed all
5 stages of Kubler theory such as anger, depression, accept and others. By analysing all these
stages. People can evaluate their situation as where they are what will be better for them and how
they can accept things that are happening with them. It has further discussed 3 different and
effective coping strategies by which people can make themselves happy and problems free. It
helps them out in problems that are creating sorrow and grief in their lives.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Michael, K. and et.al., 2018. Significant life events as a journey of meaning making and change
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Friedrich, E. and Wüstenhagen, R., 2017. Leading organizations through the stages of grief: The
development of negative emotions over environmental change. Business &
Society. 56(2). pp.186-213.
Salah, S. and et.al., 2019. Death as Transformation: Examining Grief Under the Perspective of
the Kubler-Ross in the Selected Movies. International Journal of English
Linguistics. 9(1). pp.448-454.
Friedrich, E. and Wüstenhagen, R., 2017. Leading organizations through the stages of grief: The
development of negative emotions over environmental change. Business &
Society. 56(2). pp.186-213.
Kokou-Kpolou, C.K. and et.al., 2020. Differential associations of coping strategies with grief
and depression in young adults: The role of cause of death and relationship to the
deceased. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 39(3). pp.172-194.
Feeley, T., Crowe, S. and Doherty, E.M., 2019. Grief reactions and coping strategies of trainee
doctors working in paediatric intensive care. British journal of anaesthesia. 123(1). pp.74-
80.
Huh, H.J. and et.al., 2017. Attachment styles, grief responses, and the moderating role of coping
strategies in parents bereaved by the Sewol ferry accident. European journal of
psychotraumatology. 8(sup6). p.1424446.
Roth, D. and et.al., 2019, September. Approaching Difficult Terrain with Sensitivity: A Virtual
Reality Game on the Five Stages of Grief. In 2019 11th International Conference on
Virtual Worlds and Games for Serious Applications (VS-Games) (pp. 1-4). IEEE.
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