Grief means different things to different people. Each of us experiences grief in several ways; some of us choose to experience grief alone, while others choose to experience sadness with someone. There is no correct way to experience grief, but sometimes understanding its stages can help us to understand our emotions and feelings…
- Denial and initial shock (feels impossible to accept)
- Anger feelings of frustration and helplessness that can turn to anger (directed at oneself or others)
- Bargaining and asking “What if?” (trying to gain control of the situation)
- Depression sadness withdrawal feelings of emptiness (this stage can impact daily life and motivation)
- Acceptance, beginning to find peace with loss (learning to live with loss and continue to move forward)
Healing takes time, but small steps and understanding the above-mentioned stages of grief can make a big difference on your way to recovery.