A patient's fiancé died in an automobile accident several days ago. The patient reports crying and experiencing feelings of guilt and anger. This behavior is characteristic of which aspect of grief?

A) Denial
B) Reorganization
C) Development of awareness
D) Preoccupation with the loss

As denial fades, an awareness of the finality of the loss develops and is accompanied by painful feelings of loss, anger with others, and guilt for taking or not taking specific actions. Reorganization implies the movement toward healing. Denial is manifested by the inability to believe the reality of an event. Preoccupation with the lost object would involve the patient dwelling on thoughts of the deceased.