Understanding the grieving process helps you cope with loss and manage your feelings in healthy ways.
stages of grief
closure
coping
mourning
traumatic event
Acknowledging Loss
Acknowledging a loss is one way to help begin the healing process.
Everyone experiences loss during their lives and the grief that it brings.
Acknowledging Loss
Grieving is a common and natural reaction to any loss that brings on strong emotions.
Acknowledging and understanding your grief will help you begin the healing process.
Expressing Grief
The grieving process can help people accept the loss and start to heal.
Feelings of loss are very personal. Everyone grieves in their own way. Some may talk about their loss; others may want to be alone.
The Grieving Process
Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross noted that the grieving process includes stages of grief.
stages of griefA variety of reactions that may surface as an individual makes sense of how a loss affects him or her
The Grieving Process
Stages of Grief
Denial or Numbness
Emotional Release
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Remorse
Acceptance
Hope
The Grieving Process
During the Denial or Numbness stage of grief, it may be difficult to believe the loss has occurred.
During the Emotional Release stage of grief, the loss is recognized. This stage often involves periods of crying.
The Grieving Process
During the Anger stage of grief, the person uses anger because he or she feels powerless and unfairly deprived.
During the Bargaining stage of grief, the reality of the loss sets in and the person may promise to change if what was lost can be returned.
The Grieving Process
During the Depression stage of grief, there are feelings of sadness. In addition, feelings of isolation, alienation, and hopelessness may occur.
During the Remorse stage of grief, the person may become preoccupied with thoughts about how the loss could have been prevented.
The Grieving Process
During the Acceptance stage of grief, the person faces the reality of the loss, and experiences closure.
ClosureThe acceptance of loss
The Grieving Process
During the Hope stage of grief, remembering becomes less painful, and the person begins to look ahead to the future. This stage involves coping.
CopingDealing successfully with difficult changes in your life
The Grieving Process
Memorial services and sites help people grieve and show respect.
Coping with Death
Coping with death involves receiving and showing support.
Death is one of the most painful losses we can experience.
Coping with Death
Most people respond to loss by mourning.
MourningThe act of showing sorrow or grief
Coping with Death
Mourning includes talking about the person, experiencing the pain of the loss, and searching for meaning.
Showing Empathy
Grieving alone makes the process more difficult.
The friendship and support of others who are also grieving may make the process easier.
Showing Empathy
If you know someone who is grieving, show support by helping the person to recall happy memories and being a sympathetic listener.
Use silence when appropriate.
Community Support
A person’s cultural background also influences grieving.
Common mourning rituals, such as memorial services, wakes, and funerals are events that celebrate the life of the person who has died.
Coping with Traumatic Events
Support from family, friends, and community resources can help individuals recover from a traumatic event.
Traumatic events are sudden and shocking, such as accidents, violent assaults, suicides, and natural disasters.
Coping with Traumatic Events
After a traumatic event, you may question your sense of security and confidence.
Traumatic eventAny event that has a stressful impact sufficient to overwhelm your normal coping strategies
After You ReadReviewing Facts and Vocabulary
Denial or numbness, emotional release, anger, bargaining, depression, remorse, acceptance, hope
1. Identify the stages of grief.
After You ReadReviewing Facts and Vocabulary
2. Define the term coping.
Dealing successfully with difficult changes
After You ReadReviewing Facts and Vocabulary
3. List three examples of a traumatic event.
Any three: Accidents, violent assaults, suicides, natural disasters