The Stages of Grief & Grief Counseling

The Stages of Grief & Grief Counseling

Grief can come in many different forms and have many different causes. From the passing of someone close to you to the ending of a relationship to the loss of something important, there are many situations that can be a trigger for grief and result in both the mental and physical symptoms of grief. If you’ve experienced a loss recently, it’s important to identify your feelings as grief, as well as seek support through either in-person or online grief counseling. Dealing with the symptoms of grief alone is a challenge that you don’t need to face, and it’s so important to seek out help if you are working through any of the different stages.

Stages of Grief

Each person experiences grief in their own way and at their own pace. While many have heard of the Kübler-Ross five stages of grief model, it’s important to remember that there’s no set structure, timeline, or way that individuals experience grief. This model simply provides some guidelines for understanding grief and some of the major overarching emotional cycles that might occur.

1. Denial is the first stage of grief during which there’s a disbelief that the loss has occurred. This might take the form of refusing to accept the new reality of the loss, continuing to send messages or call a loved one who has passed, or possibly even denying the loss has happened.

 

2. Anger is the second stage of grief and is a common mechanism for those experiencing loss to hide or suppress the pain or sadness they are experiencing. This anger might be directed towards others as a mechanism for blame of the loss, or even just the world in general. Many individuals understand that this outward anger isn’t necessarily logical or rational, but lashing out is a way to deal with this pain.

 

3. Bargaining is the next phase of grief, and in this phase, individuals experience a multitude of “what if” thoughts. For example, “what if I had been there,” “what if they hadn’t driven that night.” Individuals in this phase are constantly questioning how things could have gone differently and what might have changed the outcome.

 

4. Depression is the following stage of grief and can exhibit itself in different ways. Those experiencing depression caused by grief might isolate themselves from others, no longer participate in their regular life activities, and may feel generally disconnected and lost.

 

5. Acceptance is the final stage of grief. This stage means you have found a way to move on and continue living in the new reality of life without whatever was lost. In acceptance, you don’t forget what has gone, but you move forward in a healthy way and see a future path with positive things in it.

Online Greif Counseling

If you’re struggling with grief, remember that you are not alone. At ACT Teletherapy, our expert and highly qualified mental health professionals will help you build the tools you need to walk through the different stages of grief. Get in touch today and let us provide you with expert online grief counseling.