The Grieving Process

Everyone at some point in their life has known the loss of something or someone. After the loss we enter what is known as the grieving process. Everybody deals with loss in their own way, but they have to deal with it.

Several emotions are at the forefront when you are first confronted with loss. Shock, numbness and denial are our first response. You are shocked because there’s a sense of disbelief even if it was expected. Numbness can be confused with a person not caring but in fact it is the opposite. Denial is just the mind’s way of not accepting what it knows to be true.  In denial the mind will rationalize the absence and disappearance of a loved one.

The hindsight is 20/20 and that is so true. In grief, bargaining is the next step in dealing with loss. Bargaining entails shifting the blame, repeatedly trying to change and outcome that is already set. You will even try to imagine to image that things can be better than they really are.

Depression sets in when acceptance of the loss is inevitable. Loneliness, emptiness, isolation and self-pity become the utmost in your mind. You will start to exhibit symptoms of depression such as fatigue, loss of appetite and sleep, lack of energy and concentration.

Anger rears its head after the loss can no longer be denied. When grieving you can get mad at the person you are mourning for having left you, especially if it’s a parent or spouse. You can even blame the circumstances in which the person went away, and lastly you will blame yourself for not being able to prevent the loss.

Finally, you can no longer deny so acceptance is the next step. Time is the most important thing while you’re grieving. With acceptance comes the realization that life goes on, and you are still breathing, so you have to move on and survive. After acceptance your mind can even get the will to love again.