Grief is often discussed after the loss or a loved one, but don’t be fooled, there are plenty of other circumstances where one may experience grief and all the stages that come with it. You may experience grief after experiences such as losing a job or ending a relationship. Whatever you are going through, recognizing the stages of grief will help you recover and heal so you can feel like your best self as soon as possible.
Although many people are familiar with the Kubler-Ross Model of the 5 stages of grief, some believe in the more inclusive 7 stage model of grief, which combines 2 more stages of grief together. These stages, in order, include:
Shock/Disbelief. When you experience a loss unexpectedly, it’s only natural for you to experience shock and some level of disbelief. This may be a coping mechanism to help you avoid the pain of losing someone or something, and you may feel some emotional numbness to protect yourself from an overwhelming sense of sadness. It’s also not uncommon to have physical symptoms of nausea and dizziness during this stage.
Denial. While some may experience denial in the form of literally denying the death of a loved one or loss of a job or relationship happened, others may experience denial by denying they are going through a hard time, affected by the loss, or denying themselves the opportunity to express their feelings. Denial may come from a lack of understanding of what happened, and until you can fully come to terms with what has happened, you may not come out of the denial stage for a while. Remember that there is no standard timeline for grief, and you should take all the time you need to process your emotions.
Guilt. After reviewing and reflecting upon what has happened, it’s natural to regret not saying or doing something at the moment, or even feeling like the loss is directly your fault. These feelings are not logical or rational, and given that you are going through an overwhelming and chaotic time, you may feel an enormous amount of pressure emotionally. This can be scary and confusing, so find healthy ways to work through it, possibly by journaling or working with a life coach.
Anger/Bargaining. Feeling angry with yourself for not being able to change the situation is a very real part of the grieving process. You may also just have feelings of anger because of the enormous amount of emotions you are sorting through, and you may take those feelings of anger out on other people, even if they have nothing to do with what has happened. You may find yourself then bargaining and trying to turn the situation around, however, this may end up leaving you feeling more powerless than before.
Depression, Loneliness, and Reflection. During this stage, you may have come to terms with the circumstances, and have accepted the situation, but are now feeling intense feelings of sadness and depression. Because of this, you may want to spend more time alone. Though this is a good time to reflect on your emotions, try not to get too trapped in your depression and loneliness. Try staying active, making time to visit your loved ones, or even planning some type of trip outside of the house to help you regain a more positive outlook on life.
Reconstruction. When you return to a clearer state of mind and more normalcy in your life, you will begin wanting to sort things out to begin life as it was before your grief began. This may be returning to pay more attention to your physical health, your financial problems, or other daily tasks that one may lose sight of during the stages of grief. It’s great that you are beginning to move on, just remember that it’s okay to still have feelings of sorrow and sadness during this time. No one expects you to move on quickly!
Acceptance. Acceptance comes with the ability to say, “I recognize this happened, I can cope with these feelings, and I will be okay.” You may think about your loss, but you won’t feel an immense sense of pain anymore, and you may have more feelings of hope and positivity.
Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.
Sources:
https://www.thrivetalk.com/7-stages-of-grief/
https://www.medicinenet.com/loss_grief_and_bereavement/article.htm
