Grief is a normal emotional response to loss. It helps people come to terms with their pain and with the new reality in which they find themselves. The Swiss American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified five distinct stages in the grieving process. Though these stages might not unfold in linear order, they are all generally experienced, to some extent, by everyone going through a loss. Learn more about this process below.

A Guide to the 5 Stages of Grief

1. Denial

Denial rejects the pain of the loss by pretending it's something different than what it is. As the mind wraps itself around the idea that someone special is now gone, it tries to act as if the death hasn't happened. This can produce emotions that may seem antithetical to the situation, like elation, confusion, or fear.

However, all of this is an attempt to process the loss—a protective response that aims to keep one from feeling overwhelmed.

2. Anger

Anger as part of the grieving process can be directed at virtually anyone: at yourself, at the deceased, at family members or friends, at medical personnel, or at God. The loss feels unfair, and anger is a logical reaction to unfairness. Bear in mind that anger isn't always rage and lashing out—it sometimes manifests as anxiety, depression, or irritation.

3. Bargaining

Bargaining involves directing a request to a higher power as a way to minimize current or future pain over the loss. For instance, a grief-stricken individual might promise God that they will attend church every Sunday if God brings back their departed loved one or alleviates their current state of distress. Most people in this stage understand the illogicality of such an appeal, but it is a normal, healthy part of the process nonetheless.

4. Depression

Depression sets in when one begins to accept the reality of the loss. They may feel overwhelmed, helpless, or hopeless. They draw inward as the avoidance behaviors of denial, anger, and bargaining give way to the undeniable truth that someone dear is gone forever.

5. Acceptance

Finally, a grieving person accepts the passing of their loved one and integrates both their experience and the memory of the deceased into their life. Acceptance doesn't mean not feeling pain or grief. It simply means that you've accepted the loss and are not trying to change or avoid reality.

It is from this springboard that a grieving person devises healthy coping mechanisms and plans for the future.

A funeral can help bring closure during the grieving process. E.C. Nurre Funeral Homes, Inc., has been serving families throughout the Greater Cincinnati, OH, area since 1960. They offer funeral, burial, and cremation services designed to honor the life of the one you've lost. Call (513) 753-6130 or visit them online to schedule a consultation.