Grief describes the way a person responds to loss from different life experiences. Dealing with grief is unique for every individual. There is no “normal” way to deal with grief but understanding what grief is can help people cope.
Grief does not always arise from death of a loved one although this is a common trigger. It arises from other loss too including health, relationships, or even a change in financial stability. The way people handle grief cannot be classified although many have tried to explain grief to better help people understand their emotions.
In 1969 by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a psychiatrist, developed the “five stages of grief” by studying the feelings of patients facing terminal illness. The intention of the stages was not to simplify grief but to help explain it. The five stages of grief include: Denial; Anger; Bargaining; Depression; and Acceptance. People do not go through the stages in any order nor do they have to visit every stage to deal with their grief. Understanding that there are different stages of grief allows people to understand their healing process.
In addition to the stages of grief, there are symptoms and common emotions people experience when dealing with grief. People often feel shocked, sad, guilty, angry and even fearful. Other emotions can be felt when dealing with grief and it is also ok to not feel the common emotions listed.
Finally, there are symptoms people should look for to make sure they take care of themselves while grieving loss. Look for triggers like fatigue, insomnia, weight changes or even nausea that may be signs of other issues. Express but also communicate your emotions and seek help from a friend, family member or professional if you are having trouble coping with your grief.
The Merdes Law Office has been helping Alaskans for more than 30 years. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do.
Source: HelpGuide, “Coping with Grief and Loss“
