3.24.2014

the five stages of grief

I'm a psychology major. One of the things that we study is the five stages of grief. If you're unfamiliar with this model, it basically states the five stages you go through when you've suffered a loss or are grieving. The stages are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. I don't know about you, but I've suffered through these stages. Multiple times, actually. Every time I finish a show on Netflix.

1. Denial
You know its coming. It's the last episode and you're dreading those closing credits. It can't end. There has to be more. How can it be over already? Does Jamie get a college scholarship? Do Tim and Lyla get married? We'll never know. At this stage you might go back and watch other episodes, research the show online, follow Twitter fan pages, etc. Anything to keep the spirit alive, right?

2. Anger
What do you mean Army Wives didn't get approved for another season? I'm writing an angry letter to Lifetime and demanding another season. During this stage you might be moody and emotional and lash out at others, or become offended when someone insults the show you're grieving. Don't mess with someone suffering through the anger stage, that shit is real.

3. Bargaining

This is the stage where you begin to consider the "what ifs." You might think, "Maybe I shouldn't have watched all nine seasons in a week," or even "If everyone was nicer to Jimmy maybe Keith would be alive." You overanalyze and try to think of all of the things that could've gone differently. You need to regain control. So maybe you tell yourself that you should watch it again, just not in one sitting.

4. Depression

Now that its over, what are you supposed to do with your life? Be social…no way. Leave your bed..uhm no. Go to the gym? Not a chance. This stage is often characterized by too much chocolate ice cream and endless texts and tweets about said show. You may feel regret for finishing the series so quickly, and even sadness at the fact that you actually have to get a life now.

5. Acceptance

Congratulations. This is a stage worth celebrating! You've made it. No more late nights crying over Nathan and Haley breaking up or Lucas and Peyton leaving the show. No more opening Netflix and debating watching the whole thing over again. You can move on.  Now you can maybe even start a new series!

Can you tell which show I might still be grieving? Oops. Are you guilty of any of these?
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12 comments:

  1. I was so bummed when I finished Friday Night Lights, how was I going to get my Tim Riggins fix! Thank goodness there is always a new series to get hooked on.

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  2. Soooo I just subscribed to Netflix this weekend and I can already appreciate where this is comin from. I finished the entire first season of New Girl and tarted the second...there's only two seasons and I'm already dreading the coming end :( LOL!

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  3. I'm still grieving over Breaking Bad. Few several days after the finale, I just kind of stumbled around and felt in a daze, trying to process what happened and feeling sadness and joy all at the same time.

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  4. This was such a great. I loved OTH. I live in NC, and I took it upon myself to take an OTH tour of One Tree Hill, a.k.a. Wilmington. It was AWESOME! I definitely kept the spirit alive, by taking pictures of their houses and the basket ball court. (which is gone now *snif-sniff*) I'm such a nerd for that show. I have reached the acceptance stage and cannot bring myself to watch it all over again.

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  5. Great post! Geez....got all excited over OTH.

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  6. Hello!
    I have a quick question for you, could you email me when you have a chance? Thanks! -Heather

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  7. This post has now made me revert back to stage one of my OTH grief. Among other shows. But especially OTH.

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  8. I felt the same way after finishing Dexter, I could still cry that I watched the whole series so fast.

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  9. I'm started season 7 today. I keep OTH, Gilmore Girls, and Grey's on a never ending rotation. I don't have a problem. ;)

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  10. I can totally relate to this!! I tend to plow through TV series on Netflix and I am always sad when they are over. I've re-watched a few, but mostly I just look for the next great series so I can move on with my TV obsessed life. ;) haha I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who deals with this, though!

    xo Always, Abby

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  11. Sadly, I know all of these too well. After losing my son-- went through these over and over again. I wish that people were made aware that everyone's "grief path" is different. Just because you have suffered one of these grief phases once, doesn't mean that you wont' revisit it. It's been 9 years since I lost my son and each year, I revisit. It doesn't make me weak.. it makes me human. :) Great post

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  12. I'm obsessed with OTH and this post made me miss it like crazy all over again..

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