How To Deal With Grief In A Healthy Way

Suffering a loss, no matter how traumatic it may be, can leave you facing an uphill struggle to climb. However, even with the deepest pain, there is hope. Grief is the body’s natural response to losing someone or something important to you. You may experience a variety of emotions, such as intense sadness, anger, and loneliness, and for different reasons. You can encounter grief for numerous reasons, such as the loss of a job, a relationship ending, moving to a new home, developing a chronic illness, or the loss of a pet or loved one. Everyone deals with grief differently, but by understanding your emotions, taking care of yourself, and seeking support when necessary, you will be able to heal and move on with your life.Â

Learn more about the stages of grief and how to manage it in a healthy way.

The Stages Of Grief: Stages One & Two

According to doctors, there are five distinct stages of grief the majority of individuals will experience. These stages include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Denial is the first stage of grief and can be described as the stage that occurs right after the loss when you think 'this cannot be happening,' and where emotions such as shock or numbness set in. It is the temporary way of dealing with overwhelming emotions, such as hopelessness, rushing over you. Essentially, it is the mind and body’s first line of defense against something as invasive as a loss. The second stage is anger, and as reality settles in, you’re faced with the very real pain of that loss in your life. You may experience multiple emotions such as frustration, helplessness, which can later turn into blind rage. You may direct these feelings towards a deity, other people, life itself, or even towards the person or thing you lost, which is natural too.