Five Stages of Grief

Losing a person you love is very painful. Most of us will experience this at some point in our lives. During this very challenging time, it will be very helpful to have support from family and friends because they know and understand exactly how you feel.Talking to them and sharing your feelings will make you feel better.

According to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a psychiatrist and the popular author of “On Death and Dying” there are five stages of grief:

Denial– this is when the grieving person does not want to believe the truth. Initially, there is a tendency to deny the loss has taken place. During this stage, you might also avoid any social contacts.

Anger– this is when the person gets mad and irritated for not having any control of the situation and tends to blame others for what he/she feels.

Bargaining– during this stage, people try to come up with different ways to negotiate a compromise or simply try to get back what they lost.

Depression– when people realize that they cannot do anything anymore to stop the loss or to change what had happened. This stage involves sadness, misery and constant crying, which is natural.

Acceptance– this is when the person learns to accept the reality of the loss and can finally move on. However this does not mean that the grieving person will no longer get sad about the loss.

These are all normal reactions and feelings of people when dealing with a loss. Keep in mind that there is no timetable for grieving because each person is different. It might take weeks, months or even years for some to over come the pain. One thing is for sure, the pain will reduce over time, just like the popular saying “time heals all wounds.

Related Articles:

• Coping With Grief and Loss
• What To Do When Your Loved One Dies
• Mourning The Death of a Spouse
• Planning A Funeral For Your Spouse
• Grief In The Workplace
• Nobody Wants To Talk About It: Babyboomers Face Grief
• 10 Signs That Death Is Near

Kate Allado | Senior Advocate / Care Advisor( State Licensed Certified Administrator | Co-Founder at SeniorCareHomes.Com )

Catharine “Kate” is a Certified Administrator for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) and an Expert Senior Care Advisor. Kate’s grandmother battled Alzheimer’s Disease and Kate personally understands what millions of families are going through. Kate and her team are very passionate in empowering Seniors and their families by providing them with the Best Available Senior Care Options based on Senior’s care needs, preferred location and family’s budget.