Grief and Loss
Stages of Grief
- DENIAL– serves as a psychological buffer to help protect us from feelings we are not ready to deal with mentally, emotionally or spiritually.
- ANGER– our inability to control the painful loss of someone or something we loved will leads to frustration and angry feelings to emerge. We may find ourselves angry with our lost loved one for dying, or at God for taking that person away. This is a natural and healthy part of the grieving process.
- DEPRESSION/SORROW/DESPAIR– this is only one part of the process of grief. Tears are the way we cleanse ourselves and they can be extremely helpful in our healing process at this stage. However, when sorrow turns into self-pity, or if we turn to destructive behaviors (such as alcohol and drug use) to cope with our painful feelings, this could be detrimental and professional help is imperative.
- BARGAINING– Another form of denial, this stage protects us from the reality of acceptance. It allows us to linger in the illusion that we are in control until we are ready to let go. It is a natural part of the grief process, preparing us for the final stage.
- ACCEPTANCE– This stage is the goal of the grieving process. At this stage, we come to accept the reality of our loss. Having gone through the previous challenging stages, we find ourselves with a sense of peace.
It is important to remember that moving through these stages is not a linear process. The time spent at each stage can be different for each individual. Counseling can help navigate a grieving person through this process.
-stages by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross