The five stages of grief are the process of healing after experiencing a loss.
The five stages of grief can be experienced following a death, breakup, divorce, or any other significant loss. It is natural for your mood to swing from one stage to another – especially in the days following these events.
If you are experiencing grief, here are ways to cope during each stage.
Stage 1: Denial
The first stage most people experience is denial. People in this phase tend to question the reality and the severity of the situation; they may reject help or refuse to believe their loved one has died.
Denial is a complicated and often painful stage of grief. It can interfere with all aspects of daily life including physical, mental, or spiritual well-being. It can be very difficult for those to move on from this stage without help. Finding support from family, friends, or professional services is the best way to cope with this stage of the grieving process.
Stage 2: Anger
Coping with the anger stage of grief is difficult. At this point, people are usually frustrated and angry about the situation that has caused them grief. Whether or not they are having a “grief meltdown” is determined on a case-by-case basis.
One thing to remember is that it’s important to take care of yourself during these emotions, so you can be strong for others in your life.
Stage 3: Bargaining
The bargaining stage of grief helps you to make sense of all the mixed emotions and thoughts that come with grief.
The bargaining stage is a period of time where you try to get your life back on track, even if it’s for a short time. It helps you to focus on what is important and get back into your daily routine.
There are many ways to cope with the bargaining stage of grief, such as focusing on yourself and finding things in your life that bring you joy and happiness and spending some time around friends and family.
Stage 4: Depression
In grief, the feelings of sadness and emptiness are experienced most intensely at the end of the grieving process. It is not uncommon for people experiencing grief to feel suicidal thoughts or even emotional numbness.
Depression stage of grief is a normal phase in a grieving process. People experiencing grief can find it difficult to cope with their emotions and move on from this stage of their emotions with the help of therapy, support groups, and medication.
Stage 5: Acceptance
The acceptance stage is a very important and crucial part of the grief process. It includes the point where you start to feel like life is no longer as bad as it was before and you can begin to appreciate what you have now.
This stage is often taken at the same time as letting go of your loved one, which can be difficult and painful.
There are several coping mechanisms that one could use during this stage such as talking to others, journaling, doing physical activities, etc.
Find Support
If you’re struggling with grief and need someone to talk with, there are many resources available for you. Grief counseling near me services can help you work through the stages of grief.