Though inevitable, the pain of grief may be intense. Given the intensity of your suffering, you may be curious about the typical range...
Though inevitable, the pain of grief may be intense. Given the intensity of your suffering, you may be curious about the typical range of emotions accompanying grieving and how long your feelings of loss will remain. Educating yourself about the grieving process and the five stages of grief will help you be better prepared for any time you require grief support. The five stages of grief reflect that everyone goes through five distinct phases following the loss of a loved one. The first stage of grief is denial.
This initial stage occurs after an individual has just learned about the death of a loved one. It follows by the individual denying the reality of the information as a way to cope with the overwhelming feelings that come with loss. The second stage is anger. At this stage, the individual may angrily question the reasons for such an incident. This anger they may feel may be directed at the deceased, themselves, the people around them or whoever may have caused the death of their loved one. Followed by this is the third stage, bargaining. Bargaining at this stage is characterized by a feeling of helplessness while you try to bargain with or beg a higher or the universe to bring back the deceased. Below, let's take a look at the five stages of grief in depth so you can know how to navigate these stages if the situation arises.
Delay in processing grief, brought on by denial, is a normal response to shock. Denial is a natural response when someone close to you is diagnosed with a terminal disease, suffers a loss, or passes away. This is portrayed in a sensation of numbness that one can experience after learning of the loss of someone dear. In some instances, at first, some individuals act as if nothing has occurred. It's also possible that you'll convince yourself it's not real. When dealing with a traumatic event, it's common to avoid talking about it or acting as if it had never happened. This is because it is hard to accept that someone significant is gone, even if you know they're dead. Thus, denial allows you to justify your overwhelming feelings. As a coping mechanism, denial might help you put off dealing with bad news. This is a fairly normal human tendency that acts as a defensive mechanism to help you handle the initial shock of loss. It helps many individuals cope with the tragedy of losing a loved one. However, as the first of the five stages of grief begins to dissipate, you may start to heal, and the sensations you were repressing start to emerge to the surface.
As was previously said, grieving may cause a wide range of feelings. Feeling angry after losing a loved one is normal because sometimes death seems very harsh and unjust. Feelings of anger may take numerous shapes. Outbursts, fury, intense grief, and solitude are all common manifestations of anger. Also, if the deceased was too young or their death was avoidable, the loss might sting much more. Also, you may feel anger at the deceased for abandoning you or at yourself for perceived shortcomings. This response often results in feelings of guilt, which may make you further irritated as you attempt to work through your feelings. You may start to wonder, "why me?" or "why now?". Still, it's important to deal with the feelings (such as grief, hurt, frustration, or fear) that lie behind the anger being shown. It might also help to discuss the cause of the anger and try to pin it down.
When denial and anger fail to improve or modify the situation, the bereaved individual may resort to bargaining. This stage is about retaining control even after the result . It's like adding reasoning to delay the agony and anguish. The majority of us have attempted negotiating at some time in our lives. This often entails attempting to negotiate with a higher power. They may promise to be better persons or do better things as long as their deceased loved one returns to life. Bargaining is the stage in which one clings to an illogical hope despite the realities. It might emerge publicly as panic or covertly as an inner discussion or prayer. The implicit reciprocity is that they would not ask for anything else if their desire is fulfilled. You may be tempted to beat yourself up at this point, but remember that this will not solve the problem. People who experience this stage eventually realize that negotiating does not work and eventually progress to the depression stage.
Following the aforementioned powerful feelings, sadness is the "quiet" stage of mourning in which you may accept these emotions and begin to cope with them. It entails profound grief and yearning for the individual who has died. This stage of grief is characterized by a sense of being lost and unsure of how to proceed. You may feel overwhelmed and unable to face the world around you as the inevitable truth of your predicament becomes obvious. This may come in waves, or you may feel trapped in the void left by your loss. While this is a normal reaction to loss, dealing with depression while grieving may be lonely and alienating. Acceptance, which is said to be the last stage of grief, is thought to be impossible without depression.
Acceptance is not always a joyful or uplifting stage of grieving. It doesn't imply you're beyond your feelings of sadness or grief. It simply implies that you've accepted it and come to terms with what it means in your life. People must be patient with the process at this point and recognize that there may be triggers and events that generate varied feelings relating to the loss. Furthermore, such feelings may manifest in a variety of ways. At this stage, you understand that you have had a significant transition in your life, which has shifted your perspective on a variety of issues. Finally, acceptance is being ready to move on and live with grief.
Recognizing that no one feels grief in the same way, is essential to comprehending the five stages of grief. Grief is incredibly individualized, and you may experience different emotions each time. You may require many weeks, or your grieving may last for years. If you decide you need grief support with the feelings and changes, a grief therapist is a good resource for dealing with it The five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
https://safety4sea.com/cm-the-5-stages-of-grief-how-do-you-process-change/
https://www.choosingtherapy.com/5-stages-of-grief/
https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/bereaved-family-friends/dealing-grief/stages-of-grief
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
If you find yourself having difficulty managing daily activities due to lingering feelings associated with grief such as sadness, anger, guilt or numbness; then it might be beneficial for you to seek professional help through our Colorado Springs Grief Counseling services. Our therapists are trained in helping clients identify their needs and goals related to grieving.
The stages of grief, according to the Kübler-Ross model, include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. However, it's important to note that not everyone will experience all these stages, or in this order. Grief is a highly individual process.
It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is grieving, but sometimes simply being there for them and offering your support can be helpful. You might try saying something like, "I'm here for you if you need to talk" or "I'm sorry for your loss." You could also offer to help with practical tasks such as running errands or cooking meals.
There are many ways you can honor your loved one's memory during the holidays. You could decorate in their favorite colors, play their favorite music, make their favorite food, or even just talk about them often throughout the holiday season. You could also create a new tradition in their memory, such as planting a tree or making a donation in their name.
Some signs that you may be ready to move on include feeling at peace with the breakup, no longer regularly thinking about your ex, and having a renewed sense of optimism. Ultimately, only you can decide when you're ready to start dating again or take other steps toward moving on.
Complicated grief, also known as prolonged grief disorder, is when intense grief symptoms continue for an extended period, often longer than six months. This type of grief can result in difficulty resuming normal life activities and can lead to sleep problems.
