By: Arsahy Alvizo
Grief is a strong emotion that people experience when they lose someone or something that was close to them. It is a natural reaction, but it can affect us all differently. Grief can occur from different types of loss. This includes the death of a loved one, ending a relationship, the loss of a friend, the death of a pet, moving to a new home, or losing a job.
People may experience one, all, or some combination of the following stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, or acceptance.
DENIAL
In this stage, most people experience shock and disbelief in regards to their current situation.
ANGER
In this stage the person might experience anger towards themselves, people close to them, or even the person that they’ve lost.
BARGAINING
In this stage, the person tries to figure out if there’s anything that they can do to make this person come back or keep them from leaving.
DEPRESSION
In this stage, depression is extreme sadness and it happens when the person realizes that the person, place, or thing is truly gone and there is nothing they can do about it.
ACCEPTANCE
In this stage, the person understands that the person, place, or thing is gone, and while they still miss them, they are able to begin the healing process.
These grieving stages can come in any order and last for different lengths of time. It is important to understand that there is no time limit on grieving. Everyone’s journey is different. Grief can feel like a roller coaster of emotions, full of ups and downs, highs and lows. It takes time to work through a loss, it is important to be patient with yourself.
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE GRIEVING PROCESS
While grieving a loss is an inevitable part of life, there are ways to help cope with the pain, come to terms with your grief, and eventually, find peace and healing.
- Acknowledge your pain.
- Accept that grief can trigger many different and unexpected emotions.
- Understand that your grieving process will be unique to you.
- Seek out face-to-face support from people who care about you.
- Support yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically.
- Recognize the difference between grief and depression.
Grieving can be both difficult and overwhelming, but you don’t have to feel like you are alone. If you find yourself struggling through the grieving process, seek professional help to assist you on your healing journey.
