the 5 stages of grief

The 5 stages of grief is a term coined by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book On Death and Dying. It is a very common and natural reaction to loss, and the stages are (1) denial, (2) anger, (3) bargaining, (4) depression, and (5) acceptance. 1. Denial: When a person experiences a loss, the first stage is to deny that it has happened. This can take the form of refusing to accept what has happened, or by blocking it out of your mind. It’s a defense mechanism that allows us a brief reprieve from the pain of our loss. 2. Anger: After the initial shock of denial, the second stage is anger. This can be directed not only at the person or event that caused the loss, but also at people or institutions that the person feels are responsible. This stage can also be expressed in the form of frustration or irritability. 3. Bargaining: Once the anger has subsided, the third stage is bargaining. This can take the form of making deals with God or even with the deceased. The person in this stage is desperately searching for a way to avoid the inevitable. 4. Depression: The fourth stage is depression. This is a deep sadness and feeling of helplessness and despair. This can be worse for some people as they may have to face the reality of their loss. 5. Acceptance: The fifth and final stage is acceptance. This is when the person realizes that their loss can not be reversed and they have to move on with their life. This is when they start to come to terms with their loss and begin the process of healing. Fun Fact: The 5 stages of grief are not universal, meaning that not everyone goes through all 5 stages, or in the same order. Furthermore, the stages don’t have to be experienced in a linear manner, with people sometimes skipping stages or going back and forth between them.