5 Stages of Grieving

In her landmark 1969 book, "On Death and Dying," Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified five stages undergone by people who deal with their own or a loved one's death or loss. Although these emotions are listed in a particular order, the grieving person may experience them in different ways or all at the same time.

Denial

• A person refuses to acknowledge the loss and continues to behave as if it never happened. For example, she may still set a place at the table for her dead spouse or he may continue smoking despite terminal lung cancer.

Anger

• He may be angry at a hospital for allowing his child to die or she may be angry at God for causing an accident. A person may even hate himself for something he had no control over.

Bargaining

• A person may start bargaining with God, promising to change her behavior if He allows her to live, or he may start performing rituals in order to bring a lost love back.

Depression

• A deep and profound sadness overwhelms someone so much that he no longer cares about living or anything at all. Sometimes, the only way out of this pit is through professional help.

Acceptance

• He accepts that the loss is a part of life and realizes life still goes on. Though she may be rightfully saddened and still grieve for a tragedy, she knows that nothing can change its outcome.