Grief is a word that carries weight, a pebble dropped into the still pond of our lives. It is a universal human experience that accompanies loss. It is a process, not an event. It’s a storm that will rage you, then slowly settle, leaving behind a changed landscape in your life. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, or a significant life change, the emotional journey through grief often follows a recognizable pattern. It has five stages, these five stages of grief are not destinations, but waypoints on a journey.
In 1969, Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross offered a framework for understanding this language: the five stages of grief. She provided a glimpse into the emotional landscape of loss through the roadmap of Five Stages of Grief. But is not necessary that every human being goes through all the stages, it is as unique as the individual experience.
1. Denial Stage:
It is an initial shield. When the news of loss overwhelms in our mind and we go through the disbelieve situation. During this phase, We find difficulties in accepting the reality of what has happened to us. And in this difficult time, Denial works as a coping mechanism that provides a temporary refuge from the pain, allowing our mind to gradually come to terms with the new and painful truth. It is a natural defense mechanism that helps protect the us from the overwhelming shock and pain of the situation or news.
In this stage, we exhibit various reactions, such as disbelief, numbness, or a sense of unreality. And it happens because we feel so helpless to comprehend the truth of what has happened to us.
2. Anger Stage:
During this stage, We experience grappling grief with intense feelings of frustration, resentment, or anger. This emotional response is a natural reaction, it comes through the feeling of injustice and powerlessness because the way we get treated by circumstances. During this situation we lash out at fate, ourselves, those around us, and beneath this fury lies a deep pain, a yearning of getting out of pain instantly.
According to study, it is very important to express our anger in some situation because expressing our anger during grief allows us to release pent-up emotions and navigate the complex journey of mourning. It is crucial for us and also for those who are around us that anger is a normal, and it is a normal and temporary aspect of the healing process.
3. Bargaining Stage:
A situation where we start contemplating “what if” scenarios or making promises in the hope of changing the outcome. This stage involves attempts to regain control or make deals to reverse the loss. It’s a natural response to the feelings of powerlessness and helplessness that often accompany grief. And this phase clearly give a reflection upon our human tendency to seek a sense of order and reason in the face of chaos.
It’s important to note that bargaining is a normal part of the grieving process, even if the negotiations are unrealistic or impossible.
4. Depression Stage:
Here, I wanna make sure that the term “depression” in this context is not used in a clinical sense, referring to a diagnosable mental health disorder, but rather as a profound emotional response to grief.
This the stage where we feel full weight of our loss, and when the reality of the loss sets in our mind, a profound sadness start emerging. We feel overwhelmed by the feelings of isolation, loneliness, and a sense of emptiness. And because of this we experience disruptions in our sleep patterns, and we struggle with a lack of motivation and energy all the time.
The depression stage is a natural and expected part of grief, acknowledging and allowing ourselves to experience these emotions is crucial for our healing.
5. Acceptance Stage:
The final stage of grief, Where you come to terms with the reality of the loss. It doesn’t help us in the process of forgetting or minimizing the impact; instead, it signifies a willingness to move forward and integrate the loss into our life. It is a stage where we find a new sense of normalcy and begin to rebuild our lives with a renewed perspective. Here, in this stage, we can still experience moments of sadness or nostalgia, but overall, it doesn’t affect us like before, because we have reached a place of understanding and reconciliation with the reality of the loss. And We have accepted the fact that the person, relationship, or situation is gone.
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