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Everyone deals with losing a loved one differently, but there are some common stages we all go through when coping with grief. Shirley Brothers Mortuaries & Crematory in Indianapolis, IN, offers grief counseling, in addition to their funeral services, and they’ve learned a few things over the years. When you’re struggling with the death of a loved one, there are five primary emotions you go through, which they’ve elaborated upon for your benefit. 

5 Stages of Loss Discussed in Grief Counseling 

1. Denial & Isolation 

Upon learning a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or passed away suddenly, many will often deny the reality of a situation. Such denial can be used as a defense mechanism to dull the pain of loss. Often, denial will segue into a feeling of uselessness or isolation, but these are usually only temporary. 

2. Anger 

Once you’ve accepted the loss of a friend or family member, you may be angry that they’ve gone and left you behind. Those having a particularly difficult time dealing with grief may lash out at targets around them, such as medical staff or close friends and family members. In such cases, bear in mind that it may take a few days for such anger to subside.

3. Rationalizing 

grief counseling​​​​​​​One of the most normal responses to feeling helpless is to look for ways that the loss of a loved one could have been prevented. People will often start making excuses by saying that if they’d done things differently, they might have been able to change the circumstances. 

​​​​​​​4. Depression

Depression can develop in any number of ways when you’ve lost a loved one. You could be preoccupied with their funeral plans, or need an extra emotional boost from those around you. However, you might also be depressed because you’re preparing to say a final goodbye to your loved one, something that you may internalize until the deceased is put to rest. 

​​​​​​​5. Acceptance 

The final stage of grief is accepting that your beloved friend or family member is gone, and being okay with it. Acceptance doesn’t mean that all the other feelings you’ve had up until that point will disappear—it only means you’ll be able to cope with the loss and withdraw from some of the more intense emotions you’ve been feeling. 

Grief counseling can be a productive way to work through the feelings above, especially when you’ve lost someone close to you. If you need help getting through this difficult time, or you need to plan a funeral, turn to the compassionate professionals at Shirley Brothers Mortuaries & Crematory. Give them a call today at (317) 897-9606 to speak with a caring team member, and visit them online for more tips and updates. 

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