Losing a loved one is never easy. Whether this is your first experience with death or you’ve already lost someone, it’s important to know there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. While you may lean on the support of friends and family, local funeral homes can be an immense help during this difficult period as well. Residents in New Haven County can turn to the caring and experienced professionals at Porto Funeral Homes for help.

Everybody grieves and heals differently in the wake of a loss, but most people find themselves following a similar overall transition. Porto Funeral Homes sheds light on the different stages of grief, what you can expect, and how to heal from your experiences.

Stages of Grief 

Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced the idea of five stages of grief in 1969: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Because grieving is such a personal process, not every individual will go through all or any of the stages, but it’s comforting to know that if you experience any of them, it’s completely normal.

Common Symptoms of Grief 

Similar to the five stages, many feelings are associated with grieving. You may start out feeling shocked and in disbelief, and then sad, guilty, angry, afraid, or any combination of these emotions.

Ways to Heal 

Just like grieving is a personal journey, healing is too. Once you recognize your grief and realize that it’s perfectly normal to be going through these emotions, you can begin the healing process. Following a death, it’s important to take care of yourself both emotionally and physically to help you recover.

If you need additional support or help during your grieving process, consider joining a support group or opening up and talking to a friend or professional. Need help with funeral arrangements? Visit Porto Funeral Homes online or call their compassionate staff at (203) 467-3000 and rest assured their 70+ years of experience will be able to ease some of the stress. They even include a list of helpful FAQs online, so you can start planning an appropriate funeral to honor your loved one’s memory.