The death of a loved one is difficult to deal with. It’s often hard for us to process our emotions and move on from the loss.
We may feel guilty, angry, or depressed. The 7 stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, and finally hope.
Let’s talk about each stage in detail so you can understand how grief works and what you might experience if you have lost someone close to you.
Stage One: Denial
Denial is the first stage of grief and it’s also known as shock. When we hear that a loved one has died, our entire world can change in an instant.
We may find ourselves refusing to believe what happened or not wanting to accept that they’re gone forever.
It’s important for us to remember that this is just a natural human response when faced with sudden loss because every other time we have lost someone, there was a warning before their passing and grieving wasn’t so difficult because we were prepared for it happening at some point.
As hard as denial might be though, it does offer protection from experiencing more pain than necessary and helps us get through the initial stages of grief without getting overwhelmed.
Stage Two: Anger
The next stage is anger and it’s also known as rage or fury, and this feeling can be intense because when we are angry, our emotions tend to take over.
We may find ourselves wishing that the person who died never existed so they won’t have hurt us in any way.
It might seem surprising but this crippling emotion has actually been found to give survivors a sense of purpose often after someone dies which is why experts recommend harnessing these feelings by channeling them into positive action like going on an adventure with friends or volunteering for causes important to the deceased individual.
Stage Three: Bargaining
Next up comes bargaining, which happens when you try to make deals with God or anyone else about what would happen if you were to give up your anger and hurt. We can’t control death, but we can do our best as survivors to process it in healthy ways rather than fighting back with more rage or turning away from it altogether.
Stage Four: Depression
When bargaining doesn’t work, depression sets in which is probably one of the most difficult stages because while people might be struggling through this stage they are often unable to notice that something is wrong at all.
This feeling may also result when there was a lot of guilt attached to how someone died such as if they committed suicide or died due to substance abuse issues. Depression can make everything feel hopeless and since grief needs time before moving on, getting help during these stages is important ____(number)
Stage Five: Suicidal Thoughts
Without a support system, this stage may lead to thoughts of suicide or turning away from life altogether.
When someone in mourning does not have the opportunity for grieving and healing through their close family members, friends, church community, or therapy sessions with professionals, they are much more likely to feel that death has won.
This feeling often leads people who don’t get help after the loss of a loved one to become depressed which can be deadly if it goes untreated.
Getting professional counseling after experiencing trauma will make sure that you’re able to process your feelings without risking harming yourself.
Stage Six: Acceptance
Acceptance is a stage in the grieving process that can only happen after you have gone through all of the previous stages. The acceptance stage means that, even though your loved one has died and cannot be brought back to life, you are able to find comfort in their memory without anger or sadness about what happened.
The final stage of grieving is simply accepting it as a natural part of life – death does not need to mean giving up hope for the future just because someone else’s journey ended earlier than expected.
Stage Seven: hope
Hope is the last stage of the grieving process. It is the point where you are able to live life for yourself again, and not just your lost loved one. You may find that you have new goals in life or even a desire to create something like a memory book with pictures of your loved one.
It’s important to note that these stages don’t occur in order – some people might skip one stage while other people might also experience two stages at once. This is just a general process that many people will go through when they’re grieving, but the length of time it takes for each person to heal may vary depending on how close they were with their loved one and what happened to them.
If you or someone else in your family is experiencing any of these stages, know that you are not alone. You’ll find comfort in talking to a family member or friend about your feelings and sharing memories with them. There are also many online communities full of people who will be willing to help support you on this journey through the grieving process:
The Journey of Grief to Healing
The grief journey is an ongoing process. There isn’t any set length of time before moving on to the next stage. Each person will process grief in their own way and at their own pace – it’s not possible to force someone through a certain step just because time has passed.
5 Helpful Tips to Overcome Grief and Loss
The stages of grief can be a very difficult and challenging process to go through, but the important thing is never to give up. It might take time for you to heal from your loss, so here are some helpful tips that may help:
– Reach out to family and friends who have been there with you during this tough time, it’s natural for people close to us to feel just as devastated by our pain because they care about us.
– Exercise daily or try yoga which has helped many find peace in their lives
– Try not to isolate yourself too much; once again, depression is common after a trauma like losing someone we love.
– Sometimes it’s important to pop in some happy movies, read uplifting books, or listen to upbeat music.
– Try not to blame yourself; we live in a society where everything is always someone else’s fault.
It might seem like there are no solutions at first but these tips will hopefully help guide you through the grieving process. The most important thing is never to give up on your healing journey.
Commonly Asked Questions About Grief
Are there 5 or 7 stages of grief?
There are generally seven stages of grief. The five most commonly-known stages include denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. However there are also two more phases which address the need to heal: reconstruction and resolution. These last two steps can sometimes take a lifetime but it is critical for healing that they happen as well.
How do you know what stage of grief you are in?
You will usually experience one or two symptoms from each stage. It is important to know which stages you are in and what potential solutions there may be for the ones that cause more problems than they solve.
The first phase of grief, denial, often brings a sense of disbelief as if this couldn’t have happened to me. Anger can make itself known as a response to the injustice of what has happened or it can be directed at others.
Bargaining is often characterized by an attempt to petition for some kind of miracle that will make everything right again. Depression involves feelings such as sadness and regret while acceptance marks the beginning of a process where things start happening in spite of grief rather than because of it.
Who invented the 7 stages of grief?
The seven stages of grief were first identified by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her book “On Death and Dying” published in 1969. The five stages she initially proposed are: denial, anger, bargaining or depression (also called guilt), acceptance and hope.
What does grief do to your body?
Research has shown that grief can be hard on your body. In Kubler-Ross’ book, she noted many physical effects of grieving including weight loss or gain, changes to appetite and sleep patterns as well as a general feeling of coldness (sometimes called “the death chill”).
Can grief kill you?
The short answer is yes. Grief can lead to depression, which in turn increases your risk of suicide or heart attack.
How long does grief brain last?
After a loved one passes away, research has shown that grief can last anywhere from six months to two years.
What stage of grief is the hardest?
In the book, Kubler-Ross noted that denial is usually the first stage of grief. The “denial and isolation” stage can be one of the hardest to work through.
What does bargaining look like in grief?
Bargaining can take the form of imagining conversations with your loved one or trying to make it up to them in some way.
What is the final stage of grief?
Acceptance is the final stage of grief. In this last phase, you are able to move on and live your life without your loved one in it.
How do you handle grief?
The Kubler-Ross model is a good place to start when you’re dealing with grief. By talking about your feelings and asking for support, you can work through the stages of grief more quickly.