Understanding the grieving process helps you cope with loss and manage your feelings in healthy ways.

stages of grief

closure

coping

mourning

traumatic event

Acknowledging Loss

Acknowledging a loss is one way to help begin the healing process.

Everyone experiences loss during their lives and the grief that it brings.

Acknowledging Loss

Grieving is a common and natural reaction to any loss that brings on strong emotions.

 

Acknowledging and understanding your grief will help you begin the healing process.

Expressing Grief

The grieving process can help people accept the loss and start to heal.

Feelings of loss are very personal. Everyone grieves in their own way. Some may talk about their loss; others may want to be alone.

The Grieving Process

Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross noted that the grieving process includes stages of grief.

stages of griefA variety of reactions that may surface as an individual makes sense of how a loss affects him or her

The Grieving Process

Stages of Grief

Denial or Numbness

Emotional Release

Anger

Bargaining

Depression

Remorse

Acceptance

Hope

The Grieving Process

During the Denial or Numbness stage of grief, it may be difficult to believe the loss has occurred.

 

During the Emotional Release stage of grief, the loss is recognized. This stage often involves periods of crying.

The Grieving Process

During the Anger stage of grief, the person uses anger because he or she feels powerless and unfairly deprived.

 

During the Bargaining stage of grief, the reality of the loss sets in and the person may promise to change if what was lost can be returned.

The Grieving Process

During the Depression stage of grief, there are feelings of sadness. In addition, feelings of isolation, alienation, and hopelessness may occur.

 

During the Remorse stage of grief, the person may become preoccupied with thoughts about how the loss could have been prevented.

The Grieving Process

During the Acceptance stage of grief, the person faces the reality of the loss, and experiences closure.

ClosureThe acceptance of loss

The Grieving Process

During the Hope stage of grief, remembering becomes less painful, and the person begins to look ahead to the future. This stage involves coping.

CopingDealing successfully with difficult changes in your life

The Grieving Process

Memorial services and sites help people grieve and show respect.

Coping with Death

Coping with death involves receiving and showing support.

Death is one of the most painful losses we can experience.

Coping with Death

Most people respond to loss by mourning.

MourningThe act of showing sorrow or grief

Coping with Death

Mourning includes talking about the person, experiencing the pain of the loss, and searching for meaning. 

Showing Empathy

Grieving alone makes the process more difficult.

The friendship and support of others who are also grieving may make the process easier.

Showing Empathy

If you know someone who is grieving, show support by helping the person to recall happy memories and being a sympathetic listener.

Use silence when appropriate.

Community Support

A person’s cultural background also influences grieving.

 

Common mourning rituals, such as memorial services, wakes, and funerals are events that celebrate the life of the person who has died.

Coping with Traumatic Events

Support from family, friends, and community resources can help individuals recover from a traumatic event.

Traumatic events are sudden and shocking, such as accidents, violent assaults, suicides, and natural disasters.

Coping with Traumatic Events

After a traumatic event, you may question your sense of security and confidence.

Traumatic eventAny event that has a stressful impact sufficient to overwhelm your normal coping strategies

After You ReadReviewing Facts and Vocabulary

Denial or numbness, emotional release, anger, bargaining, depression, remorse, acceptance, hope

1. Identify the stages of grief.

After You ReadReviewing Facts and Vocabulary

2. Define the term coping.

Dealing successfully with difficult changes

After You ReadReviewing Facts and Vocabulary

3. List three examples of a traumatic event.

Any three: Accidents, violent assaults, suicides, natural disasters