The Cycle of Grief and Loss
- Denial: a refusal to believe or acknowledge the truth of reality a disbelief of the reality
- Anger: a strong emotion or feeling of displeasure that can be a result of several things hurt, pain, disappointment among others
- Bargaining: the act of agreeing to do something in return for something else
- Depression: the state of being depressed and feelings of being dejected, withdrawn, sadness that is prolonged which can be the result of many things or be brought on by a variety of things.
- Acceptance: the act of believing or realizing the truth and reality
Yes, there are multiple and immense layers , facets, stages and phases of our grief. Yes, there is a cycle which you and I will go through in our grief and loss. There are certain emotions or stages we will experience in our grief. However, while these things are very much true there are other things to take into consideration as you and I go through and work through your grief as we continue to travel on our journey.
Just because it has been said there are five stages of grief that is not to say that there are not more components to grief or your grief. This is not a checklist to go down, check the box “done”, and brush your hands off as if to say okay good that’s done. It would be nice if it was that simple and easy as if we were checking off our to-do list, but, unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Oh how I wish it was, though. The process and cycle of grief is fluid, messy, and complex. It’s not linear or a one and done thing. Sometimes it can feel like a boomerang that comes back and snaps you right back into the depths and midst of the profound and immense emotional waves of the storm of your grief.
You may go through each stage more than once. Your experience with each stage may be or look different for you than for someone else. Moreover you may feel as if you may not really go through certain stages. You may feel that one of these five things are harder or more profound in your process than others. It can or may feel as if you are going through the grief cycle as if It’s on wash, rinse, and repeat and then repeat and then repeat and repeat continuously. Although, this is nothing that you want to keep washing, rinsing, and repeating. Whatever this process is for you to go through the cycle of grief, that is okay. There is no wrong way to go through your grief any more than there is just one right way to travel through your grief. It’s yours and yours alone to go through. As long as you keep continuing and going through it and working to find your way back, then you are doing it right.