How To Deal With Grief In A Healthy Way

The Stages Of Grief: Stages Three To Five

Bargaining, the third stage, is where you will begin to dwell on what you could’ve done to prevent the loss, and think of the 'what ifs,' resulting in you even trying to bargain with a higher power to give you back what you lost or to take away the pain. Depression - the most challenging stage to endure - occurs when sadness sets in and you begin to understand the loss and how it affects your life. Signs of depression include crying, sleep issues, decreased appetite, and feelings such as regret, guilt, and loneliness. Just because you exhibit these signs while grieving does not mean you have depression, however, if you deal with these signs and more for a more extended period, you might have developed depression and should seek a professional diagnosis. To learn more about depression, check out 8 Things People With Hidden Depression Do. The final stage of grief is acceptance, when you finally accept the reality of your loss and that it cannot be changed. Although it will be difficult, this stage signals you are now able to start moving forward with your life.