When you lose a loved one, either through death or estrangement, you will almost surely feel profound loss. Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross described this process in five separate stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. However, the grieving process varies from person to person, and it is not necessary to experience each stage or process your grief in a particular order of steps for you to heal, HelpGuide.org explains.
Denial
Immediately following the loss of a loved one, or the breakup of a relationship, you may feel shock or numbness, according to HelpGuide.org. You may have trouble believing the person is actually gone. Other people isolate themselves during this stage of grieving. Denial is a normal defense mechanism when facing traumatic loss, however, some people become locked in denial and either consciously or unconsciously attempt to deny the death or departure of a loved one.
Anger
Many people experience anger during the grieving process, directed at the person who has left or died, or sometimes with themselves or with the entire world. Try to remain detached if you become the target of a grieving person's anger, Businessballs.com advises. These feelings still occur even if there was no way to prevent the death or loss, explains Memorial Hospital of Towanda, Pennsylvania.
Bargaining
Bargaining with God or a higher power often occurs during the grieving process. You may make statements like "I promise to be a better person if," CancerSurvivors.org explains. With estranged relationships, you may attempt to bargain with the other person to restore the relationship, although this tactic rarely yields sustainable results, Businessballs.com explains.
Depression
During the depression stage, you may feel numb, or you may feel like you don't care anymore, according to Memorial Hospital of Towanda, Pennsylvania and CancerSurvivors.org. You may feel too sad to do anything, HelpGuide.org states. However, it is at this stage that many people begin to accept that the person they are grieving for is really gone.
Acceptance
Acceptance does not mean that you have forgotten the person who has died or left or that you did not truly love the other person. It also does not mean that you will never feel sad about losing your loved one or a relationship again. However, acceptance does mean that you have come to terms with the loss, and that you are at peace, HelpGuide.org states.
