How To Identify The Stages Of Grief

Grief comes to us all in many different ways; it may be because of the loss of a close relative or completely different, the loss of financial stability, resulting in us losing our home. Most people go through stages of shock, denial, anger, then they start to feel guilty and depression sets in. This is all because of change.

Eventually, we get to a stage of acceptance and we are able to move on. But for many people, there is not a time limit but this can take up to two years. Shock can affect us physically and mentally.

We can have physical effects of being nauseas or actually unable to get warm and having to stay inside. We can start feeling acrophobic. This is where a close network of people, friends and family are very-very important.

We then go through denial. We say, this could not have happened to me. I have not lost my home; I have not lost my job.

Or I have not lost the child or the parent. At that stage, some people start acting out. Because either consciously or unconsciously, they tend to continue going through everyday activities as they did previously, before the grief or the bereavement.

Some people then start feeling guilty. Guilt towards the way they treated the person that they have lost or guilt about the loss i.e.

a gentleman who has lost a high power position in work to then have nothing at all. When depression starts to set in, this is very noticeable. And many people should be aware that this is quite a normal process.

Some people even feel comfortable at this point, because people have very little expectations of them. So, we need to be aware and get to our local GP as quickly as possible to discuss different ideas i.e.

therapy, counselling or medication to help lift us, to get us back. Acceptance that this bereavement has actually happened, that we are actually going through a grieving process, acceptance that change is now actually going to take place. If you have gone through bereavement or grief, please seek professional advice. .