Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention - Sigmund Freud

From this place of pain, hurt, and disappointment comes a wall of protection called
denial:
1. I don't care.
2. It's not really that.
3. Who wants it anyway.
4. Everyone does it.
5. There's no problem.
6. Drugs aren't my problem.
When we quit denying our loss, we move into the next stage: ANGER. Your anger may
be reasonable or unreasonable and it may be felt in varying degrees.
Hate Rage Anger Frustrated
Hurt Upset Irritated
This is a stage where blaming occurs. Perhaps distrust, revenge, or get even. Externalization
takes place—"It's all his fault."
Make a list of all the people, places, and things that you are angry about to some degree.
BARGAINING
When anger begins to calm down there is an attempt to bargain with:
1. Life
2. Ourselves
3. Another person
4. God
A. I'll try harder to please...
B. Maybe if I had...
C. Bargaining in an attempt to postpone the inevitable; in an attempt to prevent it.
DEPRESSION
It begins when there is realization that bargaining has not worked, the struggle to ward off
reality, and the belief that the experience has been unfair an overwhelming depression can
take over. This is when the full force of the loss is experienced and is accompanied by crying,
and intense emotional pain. Feelings associated with this stage include:
1. Helpless
2. Powerless
3. Self-pity—Why me?
4. Sadness
5. Guilt
6. Suicidal thoughts
7. Self-destructive or self-defeating behaviors
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