The 5 Stages of Grief
Have you experienced grief, or are you grieving right now?
Grief can be about many different things. We may have lost someone we love and care deeply about, or we may grieve the life we had hoped for. In those moments, it can be helpful to understand the five stages of grief. I didn't know about them when my husband died, but I'd like to share them with you based on my own experience.
1. Denial
By denying what has happened, the brain protects us from something that is too difficult to take in.
When I went through the stage of denial, I refused to believe that my husband had died. I believed that somehow he would come back to life, and that feeling stayed with me until he was cremated.
2. Anger
Many people become angry with the person who has died or with the circumstances. Feelings of injustice are often present.
I had so many questions about why. Why had this happened? Questions with no answers.
3. Bargaining
Many people bargain with a higher power to get their loved one back, or believe that if they do certain things, the person might somehow return. I did the same.
4. Depression
Experiencing depression, hopelessness, and dark thoughts is common. I began to question life. I wanted to live, but I was afraid because I now knew how deeply life could hurt.
5. Acceptance
Acceptance doesn't mean forgetting. It means learning to live with your grief and, little by little, discovering moments of light again.
I still remember the first time I experienced spontaneous joy again. I saw the leaf in the picture lying on the ground and thought, "How beautiful." In that moment, I realized I had felt spontaneous joy again—something I hadn't experienced in a very long time.
Right then and there, I understood that the joy was still inside me. Grief had simply settled over it like a blanket, but little by little, the joy began to return.
If you're struggling with grief right now, or finding it difficult to experience joy again, you're welcome to send me a personal message, and we can talk.
Coach Elin Debora
Certified coach & Speaker
I help you find new ways forward