Stage 2 involves a cataclysm of emotions. Which set best represents this stage?

• A. Anger/rage, fear/terror, grief/sorrow, confusion/frustration, guilt, violation and shame/humiliation
• B. Relief, contentment, serenity, balance
• C. Disorientation, nausea, dizziness
• D. Focus, determination, ambition

Answer: (A)

Stage 2 is an emotional storm after the initial shock of loss, when a cascade of intense feelings erupts. Anger and rage, fear or terror, grief or sorrow, confusion and frustration, guilt, and even feelings of violation and shame often surge together as a person struggles to absorb what has happened and what it means for their life. This wide range and depth of emotion reflect the upheaval inside as the reality sets in and the person starts to process, search for meaning, and figure out how to cope. The other sets don’t fit as well because they describe calmer, physical, or forward-moving states—relief or serenity, disorientation and physical symptoms, or focus and ambition—that come later or represent a different kind of response than the turbulent emotional surge characteristic of this stage.