Grieving for something which is lost to you can be a long and arduous process. You may go through a litany of emotions and feel that your day to day demeanor is out of control. These feelings are perfectly normal, and most people go through the same sort of process when they grieve. This process of grieving is commonly referred to as the' Kübler-Ross Grief Cycle' and consists of seven general steps. Knowing what these steps are may help you navigate your grief.
Shock
The initial response to hearing bad news, such as when a loved one passes away, is generally shock. If you are in this stage you may initially ignore the news as your brain can't process it. You may have to be told the news several times to sink in. This phase also its own unique physical component to it, and you may feel the physical response to shock as unsteadiness and the feeling of being cold.
Denial
The second stage of grief is denial. This stage is characterized by a flat out refusal to believe the event has taken place. You may continue on with your life as if the news hasn't been given. This stage also is characterized by the person showing a sudden increase in health.
Anger
Anger is one of the most difficult aspects of the grief process. If you are in this stage, you will begin to feel irrational anger toward the person or thing which you perceived has caused you the pain. If you are grieving a person, your anger may be directed toward them. The anger stage specifically stems from bottling the emotions from stages 1 and 2, which eventually manifests.
Bargaining
After anger passes there is often a feeling of depression and loss. When you are in this stage, you may question "Why Me?" or try to find a way out of your prediciment. With no way out, this may only serve to further lower your spirits.
Depression
The bargaining stage will ultimately lead to the depression stage of the grieving process. During this time, you will finally feel the full extent of the loss you have experienced. There is a reluctant acceptance of what has happened which may lead to a deep sadness which seems impossible to move beyond.
Testing
Testing is very much a transitional stage. Humans generally realize that they can not stay in the depths of despair forever and this stage begins to move you out of it. In this stage, you may begin trying to give your live some sense of normalcy by performing mundane tasks. These tasks will generally make you feel better, which will provide positive reinforcement to continue on this path.
Acceptance
The final stage is the acceptance that the tragedy has occurred and your life can go on. The grief and sense of loss may still be a part of your life, but you have moved on and are beginning to re-take charge of your life. You may begin to see positive results and are now in a position to help others with their grief over the situation.
