Grief & Bereavement Stages

Grief is part of the bereavement process. The five stages of grief are the normal responses that people have to loss, whether it is loss by death, moving away or even when someone gets bad news about something medical. These stages are not set in stone; each person responds differently to grief. There is no set time on how long it takes for any individual to go through the grief process. If people do not grieve properly, they may never fully get over the loss.

Denial

• Denial is the first stage of grief. In this stage, it is hard to accept what has happen; it is easier to deny that it has or is happening. This stage includes shock. It helps the person cope with the grief and prepare for the next stages.

Anger

• Anger can happen against oneself or the person who died or left. Anger is an important step in the grief process as it allows all of the anger and frustration to leave the body in order to get to the next step in the process. Anger shows that love existed, whether love of one's own life or that of someone who has gone. Releasing anger allows emotions hidden underneath to come out, such as fear.

Bargaining

• Bargaining is the step in grief when God comes in: asking God why he has done this and if places can be switched with the person who is dead or dying. Bargaining is where humans show their weakness and hope for things to go differently, even after it is too late for things to change.

Depression

• Depression leaves a person with a feeling of emptiness and numbness. It may be hard to get out of bed or get on with daily activities. The words of other do not help; sadness and anger may remain, making everything more painful. Depression is a normal response in the grief system and for those going through bereavement.

Acceptance

• Once acceptance is reached, depression will have subsided. At this point, the loss has been accepted; the anger, shock and pain have faded away. At this point, a person has learned to live with the loss and is moving on.