Everyone goes through a period of grieving at some point in their lives. Losing a loved one or someone close to us, such as a friend or a pet, usually triggers it. It is a necessary part of life that everyone must overcome. Some people can deal with grief quickly and control their emotions with only mild discomfort or depression. For many, the path to grieving is long and difficult.
When grief is strong and overpowering, it may appear to have no end. This type of grief is called Complicated Grieving which affects 10% to 20% of people.
August 30 is the day of National Grief A.wareness. It is a day dedicated to spreading awareness about how we deal with sorrow, how we may assist others in dealing with it, and how to do so without encouraging the stigmas many still hold against grieving individuals.
Five Stages of Grief and Coping Mechanisms
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are the five stages of grief, according to the Kübler-Ross model. Let’s examine each of these in more detail to see how they might be helpful to you or a mourning loved one.
Denial
Denial helps us lessen the intense grief of loss during the initial stages of the mourning process. We try to endure emotional suffering while we come to terms with the reality of our loss. It might not be easy to accept their passing when we may have last spoken to them within the last week or even the day.
At this point in the mourning process, our world has entirely changed. Our minds may need some time to get used to our new world.
Anger
Anger has a masking function, whereas denial may be viewed as a coping method. Your anger hides many of the feelings and pain you carry.
You might choose to focus your wrath on the deceased person, your ex, or your former boss. Your rage may even be directed at inanimate objects. Even though your rational mind understands that the person you are angry with is not to blame, your sentiments at the time are too strong to act in accordance with that knowledge.
Bargaining
In the midst of severe suffering, bargaining is a phase of grief that helps maintain hope. If your life is returned to how it was before the loss, you can tell yourself that you’re ready to give anything up and make any sacrifices.
What if I did XYZ so that things will get back to normal? What if I had done something else to stop the loss? You may find yourself contemplating “what if” or “if only” during this internal negotiation.
When you try to restore some control, guilt could be an accompanying emotion during this period. All of these thoughts and feelings are common. However challenging it may seem, this helps you face your loss’s reality.
Depression stage
When you slow down and genuinely acknowledge your sadness, depression sets in. You can healthily deal with your feelings during this period rather than aggressively trying to escape them.
One stage of grief that can be particularly unpleasant is depression. Give yourself some time, but if after a few months, you still feel stuck, it could be time to get help from a mental health expert or take part in grief counseling.
Acceptance
In terms of the stages of grieving, acceptance is not always a joyful or inspiring stage. You haven’t necessarily overcome your sorrow or loss if you say that. But it does imply that you’ve come to terms with what it means in your current life and have embraced it.
At this point, your feelings can be different. That is very reasonable. A significant change in your life has caused many feelings to change.
Recognize that there might be more good days than bad by practicing acceptance. It’s okay if there are still negative things; you’ll get out of it.
Self-Healing
Many people have found the 5 stages to be helpful in their grieving process. It’s important to keep in mind that every person handles loss differently. You could find it challenging to put your feelings into any one of the five stages of grief, even though you may go through all five.
When you are prepared to share your experiences with loved ones or a healthcare professional, do so. Give yourself time to digest all of your emotions. Remember that you are not required to take any specific action if you are helping someone who has lost a loved one, such as a spouse or sibling. Give them some space to discuss when they’re ready.
If you live in the North Bay area and are looking for grief counseling services, get in touch with Sequoia Senior Solutions today. We are here to help. To find out more about our services and how Sequoia Senior Solutions may help your family, get in touch with us today.