Grief Phases: Their Definitions, Duration, and Coping Strategies

Grief Phases: Their Definitions, Duration, and Coping Strategies

Losing a loved one or something precious can be a deeply emotional experience. To help individuals navigate this challenging time, Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler expanded upon the original five stages of grief, providing a comprehensive model that sheds light on the complexities of grief.

The Seven Stages of Grief

1. Shock and Denial
2. In the initial stages, individuals may experience numbness, disbelief, and difficulty accepting the reality of the loss. Symptoms include emotional detachment, confusion, and feelings of disconnection from the surroundings. Behavioural responses include withdrawing and avoiding the topic to protect oneself from pain.
3. Pain and Guilt
4. As the initial shock wears off, intense emotional pain, feelings of remorse, or guilt about things unsaid or undone may arise. Symptoms include crying, anxiety, and physical pain such as headaches and stomach upset. Behavioural responses include reflection on the loss, self-blame, and increased sensitivity to emotions.
5. Anger and Bargaining
6. Feelings of frustration, helplessness, or anger about the situation may surface. Symptoms include irritability, resentment, and questioning "Why me?" or "Why this happened." Behavioural responses include blaming others or oneself and trying to negotiate with fate or a higher power.
7. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness
8. Deep sadness or despair, withdrawal from social activities, and contemplation of the loss characterise this stage. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, isolation, hopelessness. Behavioural responses include crying, retreating from friends or family, and decreased motivation.
9. The Upward Turn
10. Gradually, the initial sorrow begins to ease, and individuals start to adjust to life without the lost person or thing. Symptoms include waning intensity of pain and sadness, slight improvement in mood and energy. Behavioural responses include resuming some daily activities and experiencing a more stable emotional state.
11. Reconstruction and Working Through
12. At this stage, individuals actively deal with life challenges and initiate practical adjustments. Symptoms include increased problem-solving ability and planning for the future. Behavioural responses include seeking support, setting new goals, and reorganizing life structure.
13. Acceptance and Hope
14. Coming to terms with the loss, finding meaning or new hope characterises this final stage. Symptoms include peace, reduced anxiety, and readiness to move forward. Behavioural responses include memorializing the loss in a healthy way, reconnecting socially, and embracing new opportunities.

Coping with Grief

While everyone's grieving process is unique, understanding these stages can provide comfort and guidance during a difficult time. It's essential to remember that the stages are not strict rules and not everyone experiences all stages in the same way or order.

Support groups, such as those found in community centers, hospices, places of worship, and hospitals, can provide comfort, companionship, and validation, as well as practical information. For children, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends asking questions to assess their emotional state and understanding of the loss, maintaining their routine, allowing them time to express their feelings, spending time with them doing things they enjoy, and visiting a mental health professional if they are having serious and persistent problems with grief and loss that interfere with their daily life.

If a person's sadness prevents them from engaging in their everyday activities or if they have signs of complicated grief, they should contact a doctor. Prolonged grief is recognized as an independent disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR).

Remember, grief is a natural experience that helps a person process the pain of loss and move toward healing. The grieving process has no set duration, and people move through each stage at varying rates. Acceptance does not mean people feel OK about a loss. Rather, it means they realize the loss is their new reality. They understand that while life will not continue as it did before, it will go on.

National resources for grief support include Hope for Bereaved, AARP's Grief and Loss, The Compassionate Friends, National Widowers Organization, Dougy Center, and What's Your Grief?

[1] Kübler-Ross, E., & Kessler, D. (2014). On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss. Scribner. [2] Kübler-Ross, E. (1969). On Death and Dying. Scribner. [3] Kessler, D. (2019). Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. Psychology Today. [4] Kübler-Ross, E., & Kessler, D. (2005). Life Lessons: Five Stories About Finding Hope in the Face of Death. Scribner. [5] Kübler-Ross, E., & Kessler, D. (2012). Wherever You Go, There You Are: A Guide to the Journey to a Deeper Self. Scribner.

1. The emotional turmoil of losing something precious can lead to shock, a state of numbness and difficulty accepting the reality.
2. Grief often triggers feelings of guilt, causing individuals to wallow in remorse for things left unsaid or undone.
3. Atopic dermatitis, a form of skin inflammation, can be exacerbated during periods of stress and emotional distress, such as grief.
4. Predictive science, with its focus on understanding and anticipating complex phenomena, can play a crucial role in the early identification and management of degenerative mental health conditions.
5. Therapies and treatments for health-and-wellness, including mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapies, can offer solace for those grappling with the effects of prolonged grief and atopic dermatitis.
6. In the macular region of the eye, excessive dryness can be a symptom of atopic dermatitis, further emphasizing the intricate links between physical and mental health.

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