They say a person goes through 5 stages of grief. The 5 stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Stage one is denial. Denying grief gives you time to absorb the news and begin to process it more gradually. This is a common defense mechanism and helps numb you to the intensity of the situation. Stage two is anger. Anger is a masking effect. While your rational brain knows the object of your anger is not to blame, your feelings in that moment are too intense to feel that. Stage three is bargaining. During grief, you feel vulnerable and helpless. In these moments of intense emotions, it’s not uncommon to look for ways to regain control or to want to feel like you can affect the outcome of an event. Stage four is depression. Depression may feel like a “quiet” stage of grief. This does not mean, however, that depression is easy or well defined. Like other stages of grief, depression can be difficult and messy. Stage five is acceptance. Acceptance is not necessarily a happy or uplifting stage of grief. It does not mean you’ve passed grief or loss. It does mean however, that you have accepted it and must come to understand what it means in your life now.
How can you help a person who is experiencing grief?
Listen.
Reach out.
Do not assume.
Be practical.
Search for resources.
Remember it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later