The stress of changing jobs, obtaining even an agreed divorce, an automobile accident or even relatively mild health problems can trigger the same cycle. Leaving addiction, while a very positive event, also creates similar stresses. The resolution cycle is a part of normal human life, and is a significant part of many negotiated conflicts. They may go through these steps in almost any order, and may go through the steps more than once. There is a good reason that mediators often fail to help parties progress through the resolution cycle during the process of mediation.
Many mediators are unaware of the resolution cycle.
The reason that many mediation and negotiation professionals are unaware of the cycle is because it is easy to miss witnessing the entire chain of emotions and mental states that the parties are experiencing, especially when dealing with sophisticated clients or in formal settings. It is easy to fail to realize that it is a repeating cycle that is common to life. In a formal setting, the parties have generally finished with shock and denial by the time they have hired attorneys. Anger is controlled and fear or guilt hidden in the formal presence of a third party. As a result, all many mediators often see during mediation is a slice from a day in the journey towards resolution.