The Seven Stages Of Grief

Wisdom of Healing

We will all experience grief in our lives. Whether it is losing someone close to you, the loss of a relationship, or even losing a pet. Either way, everyone will deal with grief at some point. However, everyone’s experiences of grief are different. That’s right! We all have different reactions and emotions, and experience the stages of grief differently. Stages of grief? If you are unfamiliar with this concept, fear not, we will go through it in plenty of detail in this article. Keep reading to find out more about grief, plus a few ways you can overcome it.

But first, what exactly is grief

Grief is a strong and sometimes overwhelming emotion. It is often the reaction to death, the end of a relationship, or the diagnosis of a terminal illness. Grief involves several emotions, but initially, you might experience feelings of numbness and detachment. There is no exact time for how long grief lasts, as everyone is different, but mourning can last for months or even years. Generally, the initial pain becomes more bearable as time passes and you adapt to this new reality. Unfortunately, you cannot control the process, but knowing about the different stages and where you are at, may provide some relief.

The stages of grief

The stages of grief were theorized by psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969. In this article, we will unpack seven stages of grief. Some experts claim there are only five, while others speak of seven. Either way, there is no harm in mentioning the additional two. Plus, we want you to have a full grasp of what exactly grief entails.

Stage 1: Denial

The first reaction is often denial, which may lead you to pretend nothing has happened. Doing so gives you time to absorb the news and begin to process it. It is a common defense mechanism to help you numb the intensity of the situation, and protect your mental health.

Stage 2: Anger

Once you have accepted the loss as reality, you might want someone to blame. This could be the person who died or your ex. You may also experience bitterness, resentment, fury, or rage. Anger could be considered a masking effect that allows you to conceal the painful emotions deep down.

Stage 3: Bargaining

During this stage, you’ll likely beg God, the Universe, or any other higher power that you believe in to bring back who or what you lost. Again, this is a powerful way of trying to protect your mind from the hurt, sadness and pain that you are experiencing.

Stage 4: Depression

While anger and bargaining are very “active,” parts of grief, depression is the quiet, dark, and lonely part of it. The previous steps were all about running away from your true feelings. Stage 4 is the time to actually deal with what’s happened and how you’re feeling. To do so, you may consciously or subconsciously withdraw from society. Like the other stages of grief, depression can be difficult and overwhelming. You may feel foggy, heavy, and confused.

Stage 5: Upward turn

This is the stage where you start to reconnect with the outside world and feel a little less overwhelmed. But, don’t expect a huge, sudden change, there will still be bad days. Just now you are starting to feel a little less hopeless.

Stage 6: Reconstruction

This is the stage when you realize that things have changed and you will need to start creating a new reality for yourself.

Stage 7: Acceptance

Slightly different from reconstruction, this is the “moving on” from the loss. Acceptance doesn’t mean you’re over what happened. In some ways, the pain may always be with you. But at this stage, it’ll be easier to deal with. The initial feelings you had will seem less overwhelming and you can start working towards moving on.

As mentioned earlier, it is vital to remember that everyone experiences grief differently. You may experience it in the order above or a completely different one. Perhaps you even skipped some of the stages. What’s more, grief isn’t linear. You may have days where you feel you’re getting better and then wake up one day right back to the earlier stages. There is no right or wrong, and everything you are feeling is valid and normal.

And please, if you are really struggling at any stage, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. There is zero shame in admitting that you aren’t okay and need a little support. A counselor can help you cope during this difficult time.

The symptoms of grief

Now that we know about the various stages of grief, let’s delve into the symptoms that you may feel while grieving. Most people think that grief is a purely emotional process, but it does include physical symptoms too.

The emotional symptoms of grief include:

  • Shock and disbelief;
  • Sadness;
  • Guilt;
  • Fear;
  • Anger.

The physical symptoms of grief include:

  • Fatigue;
  • Nausea;
  • Lowered immunity;
  • Weight loss or weight gain;
  • Aches and pains;
  • Insomnia.

How to deal with grief?

If you are going through some kind of grief right now, you have our deepest sympathies. Grief is never easy and can really make you feel alone in the world. But know that you are not. You are strong, you are loved, and you will feel better with time.

Here are a few ways that can help you deal with your grief.

  • Turn to friends and family members: you may want to be alone right now, but that will only make things worse. It is important to have people around you to provide you with support and comfort. Even if you don’t feel comfortable discussing your feelings, make plenty of time to spend with loved ones.
  • Join a support group: grief can feel very lonely, and your loved ones might not understand if they have different relationships with the loss. Turning to people who have experienced similar losses can help you feel less alone and understood.
  • Talk to a therapist or grief counselor: an experienced therapist can help you work through intense emotions and overcome obstacles to your grieving.
  • Take a social media detox: limit the amount of time on social media. It can be an incredibly toxic space for those dealing with a hard loss.
  • Take care of yourself: now is more important than ever to be good to yourself and not be hard. You are dealing with this as an individual.
  • Express your feelings in a tangible or creative way: if you struggle to open up, there are a number of other ways to do so. Write it down, make a scrapbook, sing, dance or create art.
  • Practice mindfulness meditation: research shows that practicing mindfulness training can help reduce rumination, which is common when grieving. Incorporate 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation into your daily routine.
  • Maintain your hobbies and interests: you might find a lot of comfort in getting back into the things you love. Exercise, gardening or art is very restorative.
  • Look after your physical health: the mind and body are connected. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. Avoid turning to alcohol or drugs to help you cope during this difficult time.

The bottom line

Grief is painful but unfortunately unavoidable in life. Remember to be kind and patient to yourself always. You will get through this, and become even stronger in the process.

If you are looking for some great natural ways to deal with grief, take a look at our sound journeys. These are great resources to help mediate, relax, and calm your mind down during some of the more difficult stages of grief. At Beginning.com, we are here for you.

The Seven Stages Of Grief

Relationships

We will all experience grief in our lives. Whether it is losing someone close to you, the loss of a relationship, or even losing a pet. Either way, everyone will deal with grief at some point. However, everyone’s experiences of grief are different. That’s right! We all have different reactions and emotions, and experience the stages of grief differently. Stages of grief? If you are unfamiliar with this concept, fear not, we will go through it in plenty of detail in this article. Keep reading to find out more about grief, plus a few ways you can overcome it.

But first, what exactly is grief

Grief is a strong and sometimes overwhelming emotion. It is often the reaction to death, the end of a relationship, or the diagnosis of a terminal illness. Grief involves several emotions, but initially, you might experience feelings of numbness and detachment. There is no exact time for how long grief lasts, as everyone is different, but mourning can last for months or even years. Generally, the initial pain becomes more bearable as time passes and you adapt to this new reality. Unfortunately, you cannot control the process, but knowing about the different stages and where you are at, may provide some relief.

The stages of grief

The stages of grief were theorized by psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969. In this article, we will unpack seven stages of grief. Some experts claim there are only five, while others speak of seven. Either way, there is no harm in mentioning the additional two. Plus, we want you to have a full grasp of what exactly grief entails.

Stage 1: Denial

The first reaction is often denial, which may lead you to pretend nothing has happened. Doing so gives you time to absorb the news and begin to process it. It is a common defense mechanism to help you numb the intensity of the situation, and protect your mental health.

Stage 2: Anger

Once you have accepted the loss as reality, you might want someone to blame. This could be the person who died or your ex. You may also experience bitterness, resentment, fury, or rage. Anger could be considered a masking effect that allows you to conceal the painful emotions deep down.

Stage 3: Bargaining

During this stage, you’ll likely beg God, the Universe, or any other higher power that you believe in to bring back who or what you lost. Again, this is a powerful way of trying to protect your mind from the hurt, sadness and pain that you are experiencing.

Stage 4: Depression

While anger and bargaining are very “active,” parts of grief, depression is the quiet, dark, and lonely part of it. The previous steps were all about running away from your true feelings. Stage 4 is the time to actually deal with what’s happened and how you’re feeling. To do so, you may consciously or subconsciously withdraw from society. Like the other stages of grief, depression can be difficult and overwhelming. You may feel foggy, heavy, and confused.

Stage 5: Upward turn

This is the stage where you start to reconnect with the outside world and feel a little less overwhelmed. But, don’t expect a huge, sudden change, there will still be bad days. Just now you are starting to feel a little less hopeless.

Stage 6: Reconstruction

This is the stage when you realize that things have changed and you will need to start creating a new reality for yourself.

Stage 7: Acceptance

Slightly different from reconstruction, this is the “moving on” from the loss. Acceptance doesn’t mean you’re over what happened. In some ways, the pain may always be with you. But at this stage, it’ll be easier to deal with. The initial feelings you had will seem less overwhelming and you can start working towards moving on.

As mentioned earlier, it is vital to remember that everyone experiences grief differently. You may experience it in the order above or a completely different one. Perhaps you even skipped some of the stages. What’s more, grief isn’t linear. You may have days where you feel you’re getting better and then wake up one day right back to the earlier stages. There is no right or wrong, and everything you are feeling is valid and normal.

And please, if you are really struggling at any stage, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. There is zero shame in admitting that you aren’t okay and need a little support. A counselor can help you cope during this difficult time.

The symptoms of grief

Now that we know about the various stages of grief, let’s delve into the symptoms that you may feel while grieving. Most people think that grief is a purely emotional process, but it does include physical symptoms too.

The emotional symptoms of grief include:

  • Shock and disbelief;
  • Sadness;
  • Guilt;
  • Fear;
  • Anger.

The physical symptoms of grief include:

  • Fatigue;
  • Nausea;
  • Lowered immunity;
  • Weight loss or weight gain;
  • Aches and pains;
  • Insomnia.

How to deal with grief?

If you are going through some kind of grief right now, you have our deepest sympathies. Grief is never easy and can really make you feel alone in the world. But know that you are not. You are strong, you are loved, and you will feel better with time.

Here are a few ways that can help you deal with your grief.

  • Turn to friends and family members: you may want to be alone right now, but that will only make things worse. It is important to have people around you to provide you with support and comfort. Even if you don’t feel comfortable discussing your feelings, make plenty of time to spend with loved ones.
  • Join a support group: grief can feel very lonely, and your loved ones might not understand if they have different relationships with the loss. Turning to people who have experienced similar losses can help you feel less alone and understood.
  • Talk to a therapist or grief counselor: an experienced therapist can help you work through intense emotions and overcome obstacles to your grieving.
  • Take a social media detox: limit the amount of time on social media. It can be an incredibly toxic space for those dealing with a hard loss.
  • Take care of yourself: now is more important than ever to be good to yourself and not be hard. You are dealing with this as an individual.
  • Express your feelings in a tangible or creative way: if you struggle to open up, there are a number of other ways to do so. Write it down, make a scrapbook, sing, dance or create art.
  • Practice mindfulness meditation: research shows that practicing mindfulness training can help reduce rumination, which is common when grieving. Incorporate 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation into your daily routine.
  • Maintain your hobbies and interests: you might find a lot of comfort in getting back into the things you love. Exercise, gardening or art is very restorative.
  • Look after your physical health: the mind and body are connected. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. Avoid turning to alcohol or drugs to help you cope during this difficult time.

The bottom line

Grief is painful but unfortunately unavoidable in life. Remember to be kind and patient to yourself always. You will get through this, and become even stronger in the process.

If you are looking for some great natural ways to deal with grief, take a look at our sound journeys. These are great resources to help mediate, relax, and calm your mind down during some of the more difficult stages of grief. At Beginning.com, we are here for you.