Seven stages of grief

Pranav Tiwari
2 min readJan 4, 2023

--

Day 4 / 365

Photo by Yuris Alhumaydy on Unsplash

Grief and misery are one of the most powerful emotions one can go through. The worst part of it is how helpless it makes you feel. You don't understand it, so you don’t see how there could be a way out.

It's always helpful to understand how our mind works in these situations. The 7 stages of grief are a way to make sense of your emotions and work through them. It’s important to remember that everyone experiences grief differently, and there’s no “right” way to do it. Here’s a rundown of the 7 stages

Shock and Denial

When you first hear about the loss, it’s tough to believe it. You might feel numb or like it’s not real. This is a defense mechanism to help you cope with the intense emotions you’re feeling.

Pain and Guilt

As the loss becomes more real, you might start to feel a ton of pain and guilt. You might blame yourself for things that happened or didn’t happen, or feel guilty for not being able to prevent the loss. This stage is tough because you have to face the full extent of your loss

Anger and Bargaining

As you try to come to terms with the loss, you might feel angry and frustrated. You might lash out at others or try to bargain with the universe to reverse the loss. This is a way of trying to feel like you have some control over the situation.

Depression

The fourth stage is when you feel really sad and disconnected from the world. You might lose interest in things you used to enjoy. This is a normal part of the grieving process and is a step towards healing.

The Upward Turn

As you move through the grieving process, you might start to feel a sense of hope and acceptance. This doesn’t mean you’re completely over the loss, but you’re finding ways to cope with it and move forward.

Reconstruction and Working Through

In this stage, you start to rebuild your life and incorporate the loss into your new reality. You might find new ways to honor your loved one and find meaning in the loss.

Acceptance and Hope

The final stage is when you feel a sense of acceptance and hope for the future. You’ll always carry the pain of the loss, but you can find joy in the present and look toward a bright future.

Remember that these stages aren’t linear and it’s totally normal to revisit earlier stages as you work through your grief. Grief is a deeply personal experience and it’s important to give yourself the time and space to process your feelings in a healthy way.

--

--

Pranav Tiwari
Pranav Tiwari

Written by Pranav Tiwari

I write about life, happiness, work, mental health, and anything else that’s bothering me

No responses yet