There are typically five stages of grief when a loved one dies. These stages are denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. While it is true that every individual will grieve a bit differently, studies show that the majority of people who find themselves grieving will fall under at least one of these stages.
Denial & Isolation
Pennsylvania's Memorial Hospital says that at first, grieving people tend to deny the loss has taken place, and may withdraw from their usual social contacts. This stage may last a few moments, or longer. It can be hard to cope with death and the idea that a beloved person has passed away. In the denial stage, it is important for you to realize that you are not alone. Family members or friends may be able to help you to work through this stage.
Anger
Anger is the second stage of the grieving process. As Pennsylvania's Memorial Hospital explains, the grieving person may be furious at the person who inflicted the hurt, even if she's dead, or at the world, for letting it happen. This can be a difficult stage to progress through. Spending time with friends and family may help you to relieve some of your anger and allow you to cope with your loved one's death.
Bargening
The third stage of grieving is bargaining. You may try to bargain, using belongings, spirituality or other things that you find important in order to "erase" the situation or turn back the hands of time. Julie Axelrod of PsycCentral states that, the normal reaction is often a need to regain control. While it may seem that you have no control over the situation, thinking rationally will help you to understand your feelings and cope with your loss.
Depression
While you are probably feeling depressed throughout all of the stages as you are trying to understand and deal with the death of your friend or family member, depression is typically discussed as the fourth stage of the grieving process. There are many different symptoms and signs of depression. Avoid being alone and consider speaking with a mental health professional to assist you in progressing through this stage of the grieving process.
Acceptance
The final stage of grief is acceptance. When you have come to this part of your grieving, you have come to accept what has happened and are beginning to face the passing of your loved one. You may finally find yourself being able to talk about the circumstances surrounding your loss, as well as feeling a sense of peace. While this stage may take a while to reach, trying to remain positive and communicating your feelings will help you to progress more easily through the grieving process and reach this final stage.
