Final answer:
The emotional reactions to loss through death involve several stages as outlined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, though the experience of these stages can vary greatly among individuals. Religious and spiritual beliefs may aid in coping with death, while communication about end-of-life issues presents challenges, especially in the healthcare setting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emotional reactions to the loss of a loved one can be profound and multifaceted. Observing death as a loss is often seen as a normal reaction in many cultures, particularly in the United States, where death is not typically viewed as a natural or tranquil transition. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a pioneering psychologist in the field of death and dying, proposed a model for understanding the stages of grief, which she detailed in her 1969 book On Death and Dying. These stages include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
While these stages provide a framework for understanding the grieving process, not everyone will experience all of them, or in the same order. Factors such as religious or spiritual beliefs can influence how an individual copes with death, providing hope in an afterlife and social support from religious or spiritual communities. Some people may also use adaptive coping mechanisms, such as avoidance, which can allow them to face death with dignity or stay in a state of denial until the end.
Discussing death and facing its realities can be difficult, and barriers to open communication may involve social and cultural norms, as well as the fear of facing one's mortality. For those in the healthcare profession, challenges include work overload, dealing with death and medical concerns, and interpersonal problems within medical teams.