Grief is a large mountain to climb, and it’s something that many of us are facing right now.  Although it can be hard to go through and leave us with our heads spinning: it’s important to try to rationalize what you’re facing and find a way to health that works for you.

These are the five stages of grief and how you can work through them in easier ways.

Getting Through Denial

Denial is powerful and can drag people down into a fantasy that the information they receive is simply incorrect.  In denial, our brain tries to protect us by lying to us, and it’s incredibly unhealthy and hurtful.

If you feel disconnected from reality and don’t even want to think about the loss, talking with others who knew this person is important.  You can feel the gravity sink in by talking about it, and it will slowly feel more real.

Dealing With Your Anger

Anger is common when we’re going through loss because it allows us to feel more in control of the situation.  Unfortunately, this can be a destructive emotion and can lead us into saying or doing things we’ll regret later.

Going into grief counseling to get to the bottom of this feeling is one of the best ways to help yourself work through it.  Don’t let anger burn your life down around you; it’s important to learn the tools necessary to heal.

The Pain of Bargaining

Although once we’re grieving, it’s often far too late to bargain, this is a step many of us are plagued with.  Our minds become a rush of ‘what if’ thoughts, and we build scenarios where things could have been different if someone just took an extra step or made a different decision.

This can feel similar to denial, and it’s important to keep yourself at the moment and realize what things are happening to your surroundings instead of what-ifs.

The Ache of Depression

Depression is an aching and deep hurt that can be horrible to go through.  You mustn’t close yourself off from the world if you’re going through this.  Discuss it with others, express this emotion and reach out for help.

You deserve to be able to heal from this and keep living in the memory of the person you lost: because they’re kept alive by you remembering them.

Finally Reaching Acceptance

Acceptance isn’t pain-free.  It would be nice if it was a watershed moment where everything becomes clear and you don’t have to hurt: but it can hurt.

Accepting the loss means accepting the pain and the entirely changed life you face.  The best way to do this is to spend time with those you love and heal.

Healing Isn’t a Straight Path We All Walk the Same Way On

Although it would be incredible if we could all heal the same way and get through our pain in the same way: unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee this.  We all heal differently, and your stages of grief may come in a different order or may look completely different from this.  What’s important is that you learn how to communicate and heal in a way that suits you.